Spirit Pulse : Mugen No Sekai [IC]

[Airen]

Mokujima Chris
Aoyama, Outside Brewed Awakenings
Monday - Morning

"Haha, I see! You guys really did do the sky fall huh? That's pretty classic, like a Tamer's right of passage-!"

While it had taken a series of rapid-fire misadventures, the group that had left the relative safety and darkness of their rooms has finally made their way to the promised land of coffee and donuts.

Of course, when Lexie had said that she had found a new store in town you hadn't thought she had meant a Brewed Awakening's Branch; those coffee shops existed all over the world nowadays, specifically, it was one of those stores that seemed sponsored by the four Main Tamer Organizations as a whole, appearing in one form or another close to their respective bases, but...

---This one was apparently special, the very first (notoriously unlucky) location that had once been -mostly- destroyed in the Second Kyuubi Incident, but that had not only been repaired by the Vice Director, but given an extra layer of flash that existed to make it stand out from the other ones, such as a fully functional bakery and more exotic coffee brews. Of course this raises the question of why she specifically was the one running the place, but, as it turns out...

She was apparently the Founder, or rather, she had started this line of businesses before she had ever been the Director or Vice Director of the SDCD...

"You're using satellites to figure out your positioning right? It's a bit hard to calculate for the the spin of the planet, so you might be better off just going through existing paths, like telephone lines you know? Not quite as open use, but it's way easier to be accurate with it. More energy efficient too."

And in spite of her status as such, she was currently doing the class waitress move of standing alongside the table in an apron, doing her best to chat a bit with the customers in her own way-!

Still-!

"I'll keep it in mind Miss Cross! Thanks for the discounts!"

With Lexie having already chosen seating for herself and Daisuke by the time Shuichi had responded to Chris's somewhat more eccentric method of communication with the same smile as before, the booth has become a place where COMP and User are sitting across from each other rather than side-by-side, and a stack of pastries of all sorts has been placed in-between by the beaming blonde figure of the owner, who was apparently so determined that all of her food remained fresh when she served it, that she had more or less sliced the prices by seventy-five percent now that the shop was preparing to close down for the day at noon...

In other words, this is a place that doesn't seem too motivated by profit... Almost like a hobby store, and...

"Here Daisuke, try one of these~ Can't go wrong with chocolate cream~"

Lexie was taking advantage of this generosity to seemingly spoil the COMP sitting next to her... Of course her disposition is that of someone who looks after others, but in this moment, her aura is edging closer and closer to that of his user...

Then again, friends are said to pick up certain mannerisms from each other-!

In that regard however, she'll probably have the easier time, as across from them-

"So, if I recall correctly you were interested in spiritual technologies Mokujima-san? Do you have any interest in vehicles? OOParts?"

-a certain senpai is doing his best to get a more legendary recluse to open herself up to the world a bit-!

[Mooncake]

Himura Ichizen
Neo Aoyama ~ Himura Residence (Outskirts)
Monday - Early Morning


A part of him was tired to the bone.

It was rare - almost never - that he was as tired as the day he met Akiko, but for a moment Himura felt it again, and he shook his head, picking up another muffin.

"~!"

The corner of his mouth turned up.

"Is that right?"

"..."

"Thank you. Akisame helps."

The two of them silently communicated a moment longer, switching to sign language as they negotiated for the day. Akiko's shrine was far for a normal person, but for the two of them it wouldn't take that long. Still...

In the end, she conceded, and he got up to start making food for their lunch. He wouldn't let the chance for a picnic go to waste, not after Akane had spoken at length about how necessary they were for living.

When the girl in question came running downstairs a moment later, Himura wasn't surprised.

"Hiya Uncle, big sis Akiko! Nice seeing you this morning! Is this lunch for me? I'm actually super late for morning clubs, so I can't talk much today, later~"

"It's yours, don't run over anyone, and-"

If anyone else had been in the house, they would have thought Himura was speaking into thin air; but that was just when the last member of the house...

"Wadatomo, make sure she doesn't get lost."

...chose to reveal themselves.

"Boof!"

The sight of the small, fluffy dog happily waddling over to Akane had proven itself to bring a smile to any face - except Himura, who nodded once at Wadatomo.

"Thank you," He turned to Akane, who was sliding on her shoes. "We'll be out for a while today. If we're not back in time for dinner, do what you like."

He paused.

"Have fun."

[Spinach]

Hyakka Onjouji
Neo Aoyama, Aoyama Gakuen
Monday ~ Morning

White hair swayed back and forth, following the head that turned to and fro. From teacher to upperclassman, to teacher, to upperclassman. Following their conversation intently from below.

Twin balled fists rose up.

“I will join!” Enthusiastically, the small girl announced her willing participation. Red eyes beamed with overt enthusiasm. Not a trace of bloodlust or hunger for challenge. Just to prove herself, and move forward. Take the first step toward her goal. “I am strong! With Camelia, even stronger!”

She turned to her upperclassman. The energetic confidence of innocence bursting from Hyakka surrounded her like a halo of blissful ignorance.

“And with Kaori-senpai, we can be even stronger still!”

The pair of fists shot up a little higher as the girl rose up to her tip-toes.

Once again she turned to Ryuumonbuchi, then back to Kaori. Determination met the older girls.

“Please allow me to join!”

[Bloble]

Mokujima Chris
Aoyama, Brewed Awakenings
Monday - Morning

"Ah..."

He had tried his best to resist.

"Aaah..."

Even if he looks like a child, Daisuke possesses enough self-awareness to feel embarrassment. So something like letting himself be spoiled silly by Lexie and greedily putting his new taste receptors to use is definitely off limits. He has to conduct a thorough test and properly integrate the functionality that his Master was generous enough to grant him.

"Aaaaaah---!"

Even so... even so!

"Ahn!"

It's just too much!

Within seconds the young boy is munching happily on a chocolate cream pastry. New sensations greet him like a long-lost friend, exposing him to new information so rich and complex that he could never have understood it through decryption alone. Only now does he truly know, down to the depths of his soul, what it means when something "tastes delicious".

It is perhaps because of that overload, and an understandable lack of table manners, that the contented boy looks a bit like a like a chipmunk, with ballooned cheeks and a splotch of chocolate cream decorating the corner of his mouth.

After nearly a minute of happy bliss, Daisuke finally finds it in him to swallow, sending the food down to his stomach, where it will be reprocessed into clean biofuel. He blinks happily and beams at Lexie, tears (lubricant) building up in his eyes and all thoughts of holding back gone.

"Lexie, it's good! It's really, really good! It's really, really, really - wait, let me look up a dictionary!"

As her COMP excitedly begins listing synonyms to express his excitement, across the table Chris is having a decidedly less exhilarating time.

Sure, everything looks amazing. Her mouth is watering too. But she has lived in a bakery for most of her life, so she able to handle herself with a modicum of restraint...

For just long enough to take a dozen pictures of the feast laid out before her, and upload them to her account before Daisuke devours everything!

"So."

She freezes just as the shutter clicks.

"If I recall correctly you were interested in spiritual technologies Mokujima-san? Do you have any interest in vehicles? OOParts?

It is a perfectly crafted sentence. But, though her heart lifts for a moment, it almost immediately sinks back down.

Shuichi is an extraordinary person, Chris knows. The sort of ultimate Senpai who would certainly memorize things about his 'underclassmen' just so he could make small talk with them if the opportunity were to arise. So, if only for the effort, she certainly greatly respects him.

After all, she herself had never been that considerate.

She purses her lips, glances up at the boy sitting next to her, looks back down, and then looks across the table at her COMP happily munching down pastries.

"...the Plume of Dusk," Chris says, just above a mutter, while staring somewhat forlornly at the donut lying untouched on her plate.

As if that is the sign of a dam cracking just a bit (though it will take much more work to break it), she follows up, haltingly.

"Um, we used to, I mean, they've been around for... a while. But, we only recently figured out how to..." she pauses, looking for the word, or perhaps just a way out. "Interface."

Yes. The Plume of Dusk, a still not-understood substance, has been part of many ancient legends, often being forged into weapons to give them a soul. Only now, however, has human technology given a proper voice to that soul. The COMP is a young device, relatively speaking, and there is much more to be understood about its functions.

"Senpai, your COMP, um..." She shakes her head, abandoning the sentence. "Our COMPs have shapes. They... ah... um..."

Chris bites her lip, and partly out of frustration, lays down her phone, opening up a simple drawing program that covers the screen in white.

She traces over the screen with a finger, drawing a rough circle with the character for "human" in the middle. Around it she draws an outline with two blobby arms, legs, and a head. Next to the human, she draws another circle with what can be recognized (if you squint) as a feather in the middle. It, too, is given two legs, two arms, and a head, but in a lighter grey.

"Before it has a 'shape', it has... nothing. So, ah, it can't be anything, y'know?"

Then, one more circle, next to the Plume: one with the character for "devil". Around it is an outline that looks like... well, nothing that exists in the dictionary. It's fuzzy and formless.

"Demons have... many shapes. That stick. So, um, actually one shape. Per demon. Like us. But that shape is flexible. It can go through data, reform, even change under the right circumstances, and we... can't." Barring some costly techniques, of course.

"So, a Plume. COMP. The shape comes from us, right? But... I'm not so sure about that."

It is not something she has noticed herself, but the more she speaks, the more Chris sheds her discomfort. Or perhaps she has simply been distracted. She grows more animated (though still muted by regular person standards) and even looks Shuichi in the eye a few times when trying to emphasize a point.

"Three kinds of souls. Three ways of... of being. I think... a COMP's shape is not necessarily like a person's. Or a demon's. They look and act like people because... they borrow our rules. Because we're there. They imprint on us. But are they more like us? Or devils? Or something else?"

She draws a three lines between the three circles, then plants a bright red dot in the center of the triangle.

"With our technology, we can triangulate. We can find what a soul looks like, when you go past the outside. And that starts with..."

She erases one of the 'arms' of the Plume's body, and replaces it with... a fuzzy, unrecognizable thing.

"Changing the shape."

At this point, so worked up is Chris that it takes several seconds for her to realize that she's leaning close, staring Shuichi right in the eyes.

"Ah. Um. Sorry."

As her blush returns, Chris backs off, averting her eyes again. Hands shaking slightly, she palms her phone again, fingers nervously tapping at the surface.

"So, um. COMPs. They're interesting."

What had she been thinking? It was supposed to be small talk, not a lecture!

As Chris bites down on a donut to seal her own mouth shut (before she says something dumb again), she searches up the location of this particular Brewed Awakening with her free hand, and finds... very few mentions, actually. Is nobody talking about it? Maybe that's why there are hardly any visitors on a nice morning such as this. Even if most students should be going to class right now, there would at least be some tweets about the reopening...

Ah. So that's the problem.

One by one the photos of delicious food go up, each accompanied by ecstatic words of praise plagiarized from Daisuke's ramblings. Finally, to top it all off, a hashtag.

In this modern world, it's important to promote yourself properly.

[Rafflesiac]

Logan Starbright
SLEIPNIR ~ Flight Deck (South)
Monday ~ Morning

Brilliance. A streak of light bright enough and hot enough to drown out Logan’s wide-scale attack swung down, charring the air in front of him as he leaped back, his heartbeat rattling through his body and eyes wide as the shears of Atropos snipped shut. Where had that come from!? Concealment, farther along the deck. The trap? Sprung. And he was still in its jaws! The blinding green light burst out, narrowly missing Logan’s eyes as he skewed his gaze and raised his staff to block the oncoming enemy whose silhouette grew within the light---

"Hah-!"

---and landed on the deck as Astra kicked the assailant in the chest, sending it flying into a somersault before landing on the deck.

“An Anti-Spirit Suppression Weapon…”

Robots created through mysterious technology, reverse-engineered from Genesis for the purpose of studying the soul and forging a bond between humanity and demonkind. At least, that was meant to be the case, but was this assailant really a Genesis-based model? Or was it a zero model?

Wicks of light shined into existence around the enemy like spectral bullets being loaded into a revolver.

Logan! I can’t read these spells!

Logan gritted his teeth. He should’ve loaded Interpreter, though there was no guarantee that his foe even used the same system. He should’ve had a detection Auto-Skill in order to avoid losing the initiative. He should’ve reacted sooner so that Astra didn’t need to save him.

Then we’ll have to keep our eyes open.

Invisibility, possibly full cloaking, only dispelled by the enemy’s need to attack, or use spells to attack.

A deadly slash of plasma.

A blinding light.

Motes of energy stored for an unknown purpose.

Above all, incredible speed.

Sussing out its origins was pointless. All he could do was assess and predict until he created an opening!

Amelia! Nail him with Zio the moment you see the chance!

And as the enemy lunged forward, Logan stood firm to meet it with eyes trained on fates yet to be.

Wise Up!

Auto-Skill: Revitalize
Spell Formulas: Maei line, Zio Line, ???, Eye of the Fates, ???, ???
COMP Heat: 10/10

Enemy Kill Count: 16

[Airen]

Himura Ichizen
Neo Aoyama ~ Himura Residence (Outskirts)
Monday - Early Morning

"Gotcha-!"

The energy of youth is truly a wonderful thing, as evidenced by how quickly that girl had managed to make her way out of the house, accompanied by a waddling dog that has always been her protector. Of course, sending Wadatomo along with her for the day means the dog will not return for some time; Aoyama Gakuen was a rather strange academy all things considered, and so the dog had taken to simply accompanying her throughout the entirety of the day rather than return home afterwards, perhaps because of the attention given to it by the other students?

---It's difficult to say. But one thing's for sure...

It's certainly hard to separate a girl from her dog, so it would be fine on both ends.

----

Himura Ichizen
Outside Tokyo ~ Mount Tsubaka (Aurora Shrine)
Monday - Morning

Of course, in the modern era, there are many different forms of transportation.

Cars and bikes from the previous era, their cleaner magi-tech counterparts in the current era, transportation terminals that shuffled groups of people from one designated area to another in a manner similar to an instantaneous bus, certain forms of magic formula, COMPs equipped with flight modules, and perhaps most traditional of all-!

One's own feet.

While vehicles remained as popular as ever due to humanity's fascination with such things, simply walking from one place to another has remained a favorable method of transport, particularly after the introduction of magic had made the populace as a whole "stronger" than they had used to be in almost all areas; in the old world, reinforcing oneself with spiritual power had been something taught and used by the select few, but in the modern day, it is a technique that most humans seem to utilize on themselves subconsciously, resulting in a populace that was more or less innately supernatural, even if they themselves didn't consider it to be abnormal anymore...

---Indeed, perhaps it could be blamed on your upbringing, but the humans out here were certainly different from the ones you had known back then; capable of wielding both magic and science in a way that certainly seemed 'futuristic.'

Still...

Akiko remained old fashioned, liking to do some things the old fashioned way... Even if she did find the modern world fascinating in it's own way. When it came down to it, she was the sort who would choose to walk her way around, perhaps as a method of reintegrating herself with nature?

---Even so, while walking is walking, the idea that such a thing would be slow when employed by a Tamer is foolish; while it's a ways away from Aoyama, you could arrive in under half-an-hour if you felt the need to put some real effort into it, but-

-at the pace she sets, it's closer to eleven before the somewhat run-down Shinto shrine comes into view.

Hidden within the depths of a forest, it's the sort of place that one could only run into on accident if they didn't know exactly where it was; surrounded by trees and plant-life on all sides, it's the sort of structure that seems close to being reclaimed by the Earth, where the only reason that the plants have yet to invade it's structure is the particularly dutiful shrine maiden that continues to come back here from time to time.

To you... It is also a place you had called "home" in the past, but to her...

It is where she grew up, seemingly all on her own, doing her best to honor a Goddess who apparently went by the name of "Aurora" -although she hadn't told you much about her- still...

To come back here... Is a bit nostalgic even for you...

Of course...

"~"

Cheerfully, she hands you a broom; passing it to you after calling it to her hand from inside of the shrine through use of a spell; of course a part of you had expected this, after all, Akiko was the type who always did a bit of work before allowing herself to do anything more whimsical, but...

...She wants you to brush away the leaves huh? Gotta work to keep the shrine in good condition?

That's a bit nostalgic too.

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
Rose Cross ~ Library
Monday – Morning

"Study harder, train more, get stronger."

For Catherine, this is what could be called a remarkably concise answer.

"Ideally you would want to know exactly what the misfortune is of course, then you could prepare yourself to deal with it specifically when it arrives... But if we're talking about just a vague misfortune, I guess the only thing you can really do is try to broaden your horizons, gather as much knowledge as you can so you are better equipped to handle the misfortune when it arrives... After all, the one factor you can always change in an equation is yourself, so improving yourself is something that should always help you out."

But it's also markedly in-character, the answer of someone who wholeheartedly believes that most problems can be solved with the right amounts of information; it's a pragmatic and self-actualizing approach that would technically work as advice for most problems you might encounter in life, but whether it's reassuring to you or not...

Only you can really say-!

Still...

"Why do you ask? Did something happen to spark this hypothetical? A bad dream perhaps?"

While the swiftness of her answer had initially implied she hadn't perceived the question as strange in the slightest, her own followup question is one that cleanly declares the opposite as truth-!

"You're not being threatened are you? Bullied? Haunted?"

Her voice is calm as always but...

Answering that question in the affirmative would certainly result in some unfortunate soul getting thrown through a wall at some point in the future, thankfully that's not the case, still...

Now she seems a bit concerned again...

[Airen]

Hyakka Onjouji
Neo Aoyama, Aoyama Gakuen
Monday ~ Morning

"Well then, I suppose my hands are tied in this matter."

Where others would respond to a first day combat class with some apprehension, the innocent and enthusiastic stance you take on the matter is one that easily draws a smile to the Council President's face. Seeing as her teacher was known for getting carried away with ideas at times, she had been prepared to defend you against any first day hazing 'rituals' the woman might think up on impulse, but...

How can she say no to that sort of request? It doesn't matter how she looks at it, be it as a president, or as a Knight, the only thing she can really do in the face of that special sort of innocence is relent to the request, and-

"Excellent. That's the sort of spirit a Tamer should have!"

-the teacher herself, a miss Saki Ryuumonbuchi, seems quite pleased by that answer-!

"Let's see, who should I assign as your opponents...? Ah, Nakahara! Nanaya! You'll be over here with these two, introduce yourselves properly okay? One auto skill, casual rules!"

Calling out to two of the other students in the distance, the teacher waits just long enough to see them start towards you and Kaori before turning back to you and-

"Do your best. I'll leave explaining the rules to you, Ikushima!

disappearing with a wink, as the world around you seems to shift into a haze of scrolling numbers and letters, a sign of an artificial reality that has yet to be completely designated by those inside of it-!

Yes...

It certainly gives the impression of standing inside of a digital world, or the training stage inside of a fighting game-!

The only ones that remain are those that the teacher designated as being part of this particular duel, other than Kaori and you, there's a cheerful looking girl running towards you at a jog, along with a somewhat less energetic-looking young man, whose walking pace is a clear distinction between him and his skipping counterpart.

"Hiya~ My name's Akane! Nanaya Akane! Happy to meet you new girl! What's your name? How old are you?"



"Yo. Name's Nakahara Hiroki, second year. Hope you weren't forced into any of this... Sensei has a good heart, but she's kind of crazy."

As are the natures of their greetings...

Although they both seem friendly in their own ways-!

[Airen]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR ~ Flight Deck (North)
Monday ~ Morning

They truly are simplistic models.

When compared to even civilian-tier COMPs, the ability the drones possess to alter their behavior in response to changes in their environment is minimal; even though their flight paths are clearly obstructed by the harsh winds of your Harmonizer Field they do not think to retreat or fall back... No, because it seems they have been commanded to attack whatever life it finds regardless of the circumstances, it will continue to do so mindlessly and without emotion, a program following a script rather than a truly artificial life that could reason on it's own, and...

Their lack of life leads them straight to their own destruction, as the already harsh winds become deadly with the addition of a single spell, harsh winds becoming razor winds in the blink of an eye; they are winds that a Tamer or Demon could certainly endure or even dodge with their enhanced perceptions and bodies, but for simple unfortunate machines... It is no different than being stuck inside of a magical blender, a relentless cyclone that shakes those caught within it mercilessly, before scattering what remains of them across the length of the deck...

On Adala's side, her enemies are already simultaneously exploding by the time you think to glance her way; it's not a surprising development, Adala Lagerkvist is a modern-day legend whose power can keep even the most disagreeable members of the Rothschild in check... If destroying these drones was a simple task for you, than to her it was something that barely registered as an obstacle in the first place, a far less menacing opponent than those "Gods" she had encountered over a decade ago during the events of the second Kyuubi incident, yes...

The single stroke of a blade rends space and cuts all of her opponents to shreds... Or at least, that is what your glance at her situation reveals to you, but...

This outcome is expected, all of it is expected, all of it is far too easy.

Spirit Tamers are those who exist to build a bridge between humanity and demon-kind, and the value demons placed in power made it necessary for Tamers to be "strong" to really gain any lasting respect. It might sound a bit arrogant, but there was almost nothing these sorts of opponents could do to you by themselves, even if you had been out here completely alone, there was a good chance you could have emerged victorious against the entire swarm by yourself; it might have required using a bit more power, but if it came down to it, these enemies couldn't beat you if you were serious unless they really wore you down first...

---That thought keeps you on guard, because whoever is attacking must know this too.

There is no point in fighting a battle you cannot win... Of course, there is a possibility that these drones were simply acting of their own accord, that the ship flying above them had activated a "battle protocol" of sorts, but...

Your gut says this isn't the case, and so you wait for the 'trick' behind what must be a bluff, ready to counter absolutely any sort of attack might come your way, but-

---When something does appear, it catches you off guard in spite of your preparation.

Of course, it's not your fault.

It's nothing quite as flashy as the assassin that has suddenly attacked Logan in the distance, it is not a blade emerging from behind camouflage, or a sniper bullet from four kilometers away... It is not something you can see, nor is it something Adala can perceive, because it is a special sort of strike that can only truly work on the one called "Ludwig Karlfeldt."

---For a moment, you see something like static flash beneath your eyelids, as if someone had dealt you a heavy blow.

But no one has done anything of the sort.

---The pain that assaults you is one that exists only within the confines of your own mind, to put it more bluntly, it is something you are able to recognize as a telepathic strike almost immediately after it hits you. It manifests as pain, someone else's pain, a transmission of agony that goes straight to the center of your mind, existing as a sharp twisting 'ache' that felt like someone had grabbed ahold of your soul and was trying to pull it into a new shape...

Or at least, that is the best you can describe it in terms of "sensation."

It's a pain great enough that you black out for an instant, although your body responds to it's training and refuses to fall even when the mind "shudders" for a moment, but the brief lapse in your cognition has not gone unnoticed by Adala, who has already stepped in front of you at a speed that borders on the divine, one arm held out in front of you as if to shield you from the two figures that have seemingly just melted into existence twenty feet away from the both of you, aware that a physical sneak attack is impossible with Adala present... Both are cloaked in black robes, but one has an obviously more feminine form than the other, the muscles of her limbs somewhat less pronounced than her counterpart.

"...State your names. Who are you working for?"

Adala doesn't look surprised that things besides the drones have taken position on the ship, but her defensive posture is also one that keeps her from attacking them straight away, as her inability to sense what had gone wrong with you has caused her to take zero chances with your safety, effectively serving as an omnipotent guardian that won't move until you seem to be "okay."

---But will you be okay?

While you have pushed all traces of the pain from your mind with some effort, there is another aspect to all of this that has you a bit more shaken then you would ordinarily be...

Namely, that you easily recognize the 'feeling' that comes with the one on the other end of that mental probe; it's a 'power' that is more or less identical to your own, something that was able to slip past your defenses not because of a lack of skill on your part, but rather because...

It used a mental 'door' that you had always kept open, waiting for the one who would use it to reappear...

Yes...

While that person has no reason to be here...

"..."

Someone that can only be Lara Karlfeldt -even if you can't see her face- is staring at you silently from across the besieged ship, refusing to say anything in response to your aunt's question...

"..."

Wise Up

Name: Lara?
Gender: Female
Age: ???

Other Actions

A Sibling Bond: Due to a lingering telepathic connection with Ludwig, Lara's attacks can bypass Ludwig's normal mental resistances if she successfully manages to ambush him with her 'ability'. Further details are unknown.

[Airen]

Mokujima Chris
Aoyama, Brewed Awakenings
Monday - Morning

It feels a little bit embarrassing-!

Where normally words fail you, the push towards the topic of spiritual technologies and COMPs had seemingly been enough to bring out a more verbose response from you; of course thinking about it afterwards, Shuichi is certainly the sort who wouldn't need a lecture on COMPs and their mysteries, seeing as how his family was so intimately linked with them as a concept, but...

Where your mind goes out of it's way to torture you for this, coping mechanisms firing into place as you grasp at your phone and start leaving glowing reviews, the young man had nevertheless never interrupted you a single time during your lecture. He had listened intently, nodding when it felt appropriate, but never opening his mouth to stop you from talking, as if this impassioned response itself had been what he had been after in the first place, but...

"Yes. I find them quite fascinating as well, they're a mystery that they themselves have yet to figure out."

When it starts to look like you're going to clam up again, the young man moves to fill the silence of his own accord; of course it's true, while exposure to humans led to Plumes gaining a human-like sense of awareness, they themselves can't really say where their original form was from -if anywhere- or what it had even felt like to be 'nothing,' before becoming 'something,' because they had clearly existed in some form before their current one...

Yes...

You had described them quite well in his opinion, and your perspective on it alone had made it valuable, even if all of this was simple small talk.

"They grow by being linked to us, but is that more because of our nature? Or because of theirs? I find those sorts of puzzles fascinating as well, so I completely understand where you're coming from... It's like wanting to better understand a friend, right?"

Putting a bit of his own thought out there, the dark-haired youth gracefully grasps a crepe, but refrains from moving it any closer to his mouth out of what seem to be an ingrained sense of table manners.

"They do their best to understand us as much as they can, so returning the favor is only natural."

Of course, while Plume based A.Is are typically loyal to their user, it's not like they don't get anything out of the relationship themselves either; their ability to grow in emotion and complexity over time hinted at them 'feeding' off of the user -and their shared experiences- in some way. COMPs who have -permanently- lost their users are also well-known to be more susceptible to intense lethargy and depression, so it's clear that the two seem to 'belong together' to an extent, so...

It was an interesting relationship, and an odd mystery that existed right at the heart of what it meant to be a "Spirit Tamer."

"So are you ultimately planning on becoming a Smith? You seem quite impassioned about the topic."

Still...

While he does find the topic interesting, more than that...

He's interested in the fact it got you to open up far more than normal, and lightly pushes a continued conversation towards you...

Meanwhile...

Where sparkles may exist elsewhere, a somewhat more dangerous aura of 'carefree big sister' from someone who is doing her best -admittedly- to not let out a natural "ara ara~" in response to the chipmunk-like COMP in front of her. The feeling that stops her is that it's far too much of a stereotype for her to say it aloud, even though her years of watching anime in America have set off alarm bells in her mind, alarms that scream that now is the time to say it, if any such time would ever appear in life, but-!

"Your systems are pretty efficient! You wanna race?"

Ultimately, she's just too innocent herself, still-!

Before a race can really become a race, Liane returns from a brief visit to the front door; seeing as how you guys were her final group for the day before she apparently went back to headquarters, she had moved from being a standing waitress to cleaning up around the store, stopping only when someone knocked on the door outside to answer it, and...

"Junk mail, junk mail, work documents, more work, letter from Eliza... Hmm?"

Sorting through a -rather sizable- stack of letters reveals a bizarre -and somewhat suspicious- truth to her, namely...

"Have you guys been planning on coming here today for awhile? There's a letter addressed to you in here, says "Chris and Daisuke."

---Of course, it goes without saying that physical letters have gone out of style. COMPs made data communications so seamless that everything else was basically obsolete outside of sentimental feelings for the old ways, but even more so than that...

A letter to you here?

No return address? Just seemingly tossed in with Liane's stuff?

"...Want me to check it for anything weird?"

Even she seems to find if suspicious as all hell...

[Bloble]

Mokujima Chris
Aoyama, Brewed Awakenings
Monday - Morning

Sempai is a gracious guy. The moment he senses Chris about to retreat, he steps in and carries on the conversation by himself. Though she would never describe the strange exchange they have going on as a proper conversation. Rather, it seems more like the verbal equivalent of two people awkwardly trying to shake hands for several seconds.

"They grow by being linked to us, but is that more because of our nature? Or because of theirs? I find those sorts of puzzles fascinating as well, so I completely understand where you're coming from... It's like wanting to better understand a friend, right?"

"Yeah. We have to do our best to understand our friends."

Still... it's not as if she dislikes it... being understood, that is.

"So are you ultimately planning on becoming a Smith? You seem quite impassioned about the topic."

"Huh?"

It's not something Chris had ever given much thought. She had simply, upon joining and being given a tiny bit of freedom, done what she felt like. And yet here is Shuichi, top of the class at everything, asking her about her prospects with expectation in his voice. It's the sort of question Chris hasn't heard in years. Once, it would have brought her a great deal of stress and anxiety, but now...

"...maybe?"

Now she feels almost comfortable giving a completely vague answer!

"I mean, I, um..."

Chris twiddles her fingers, wanting to sink into a puddle in the floor. But it's too late. She has to finish the sentence, even if it ends the world.

"At first I just... wanted to make Daisuke cuter... so... that's passion, maybe?"

It'll probably take a few years to finish everything. She's basically making an entirely prosthetic body, after all. Cyborgs and doll bodies for COMPs aren't unknown, and it's not like Chris has tread much new ground yet. Anti-Spirit Suppression Weapons already exist, too. But just that has always struck Chris as 'stopping halfway'. She wants to eventually be on the forefront, pushing technology further. There's no reason to stick to a human form, for one thing (though obviously that's cutest). But even those are hazy thoughts, not oft-reflected upon.

"I... didn't really consider anything, at first." It feels almost heretical to say it, but truly, her time at the SDCD has been so busy and exciting that Chris had never seriously considered the future. Each day brought new things, and just stepping forward had led to her walking down an interesting path. Now that she is being asked to reflect and look ahead, though, she winds up wondering out loud. "I just did what came naturally. Dad... is a repairman. I... watched him work, when I was younger. And helped. Maybe that's why. He's pretty happy, when I tell him about Smithing..."

At the mention of parents, Chris suddenly goes still. She isn't the most socially intelligent person, but even this is something she instantly realized, moments after saying it.

The tall, gloomy girl looks up at Shuichi (somehow she'd ended up laying her head flat on the table during their conversation, and had been staring at a scone for nearly a minute) and does her best to look apologetic. It looks more like a wince... as the most generous interpretation.

"Sorry... you've... probably planned everything, huh? And, um, it must be..."

Difficult? Or, perhaps, impossible to bear. And yet, Sempai is the kind of guy that bears it anyway.

Yes. Unlike Chris, Shuichi has had a far greater responsibility for a much longer time. Even if he is far more suited than someone like her to carry that responsibility, that doesn't make it any lighter. His heritage, his career, and the role he has chosen to play for his comrades, none of them are to be taken up casually. So, to hear someone being all wishy washy about her future, when he has worked so hard to make his own... the mere thought is enough to have Mokujima Chris mentally berate herself again.

Perhaps it's because he notices this, despite being distracted by the joy of sweets across the table, that Daisuke takes matters into his own hands.

"Iwe gew it!"

His hand shoots up, and the small child quickly stands, cheeks stuffed full of donut.

"Sowwy Wexie! In a sec!"

A letter has arrived, and Chris is too busy having important conversations to bother with it!

Daisuke swallows what's in his mouth and extracts himself from his table, skipping over to where Liane is looking at the letter.

"I'll do it, Ma'am!" Proudly, the COMP volunteers. "It might be one of Puck's pranks. Chris would get real mad if he ended up causing someone trouble."

Of course, that's only a possibility, and not a likely one. That guy tends to target others, rather than Chris and Daisuke themselves.

"Or maybe it's... no, no, she's way too modern to write a real letter." Or is she? Daisuke hasn't conversed with her much, so he can't be sure. But he is sure that she can't have predicted Chris leaving the room and ending up in this exact place on this exact day.

"Hm..." Daisuke can't think of who it might be. Which only leaves the option of checking it out directly!

[Zurvan]

"...State your names. Who are you working for?"

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR ~ Flight Deck (North)
Monday ~ Morning

It had been all too easy, too predictable. The drones were swatted away like flies, unable to form even the faintest of a threat.

Just like Adala had told me before, something else was at play, something more ready to show at any time.

I kept my guard up, my COMP ready for anything we could think of.

But that's just it. What had happened, within an instant, is something neither of us had expected to ever occur.

The fact that she lived was already beyond belief, though it never stopped me from believing.

I always wanted to believe she was still alive, that the Karlfeldt elders had lied, that her disappearance was but temporary.

But to think she, my very own sister, the only living sibling I have left, who shouldered the family's legacy, the person that was there to protect me and teach me the gentler side of humanity.

To think that she would harm me, was even harder to believe. The realization was more painful then the blow she launched itself.

However, despite the pain, I felt something else dwell up in me.

This feeling, it could only be described as one thing.

Relief.

----Lud, are you okay, can you hear me?

Despite the pain, the pained expression leaves my face and a crude smile appears in its place.

Hahahaha, oh I'm more than okay now, she's alive Lydia, she's alive.

Yes, but it seems she's our enemy now. Just because we look alike doesn't mean she's your nice and kind older sister, that's my job now!

Haha, yes, it sure is. Protect me well, sis.

Count on it.

--With her reappearance now solidifying the fate of Lara, the mental door could now be closed.

And as I close it, I let one final thought slip past it.

It's good to see you again, Lara.

Now, since the last thing I want is for these two ladies to fight over me.

"I'm okay Commander, more than what it looks like."

Standing guard between me and the two enemies that appeared, ready to defend from any upcoming attacks. But this way she cannot fight, and I'm only holding her back.

"If I may be so greedy Commander, the female opponent is mine. Her name is Lara, and she and I have, lots of catching up to do, family business I'm afraid."

Now the deck of the SLEIPNIR, where the paths of the future and the past cross, has become the stage of a little family reunion.

A family reunion unlike any other.

I lift my head and look towards my sister, attempting to make eye contact, the first time I face her since so long.

My calm mind returns to its normal state, a quiet ocean. There is but one thought left, one worthy of vocalizing.

I go to stand besides Adala, calm and collected, ready for what happens next.

"Well Lara, it's about time you came back to the land of the living. We need not fight, talk to me instead, tell me what has happened to you."

Sadly, I don't believe only words will resolve this, and so I stand, ready to respond to whatever the enemy throws to us next.

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
Rose Cross ~ Library
Monday – Morning

I blink.

The response she offers is surprisingly concrete and clear. Regardless of how the future will come, one can only be better prepared by improving themselves… it’s a good piece of advice.

Very logical. Pragmatic. Unexpected, given the fuzzy nature of the question.

Thinking more deeply about it, it’s not all that special- it could really be applied to anything, and I’m certain that I’ve heard of many similar sentiments throughout my life, although they were perhaps not worded as strongly as Catherine did just now. But it’s easy to forget the importance of advice that can always be applied. Being reminded is a good thing.

Especially for me, since I am lacking in many respects.

"Why do you ask? Did something happen to spark this hypothetical? A bad dream perhaps?"

“Just something that was on my mind… I guess you could say it was a bad dream.”

It’s not technically incorrect, though I would hesitate to call it an accurate description by any stretch. But it serves its purpose, more so than any alternative that I could offer. I don’t want to cause her unnecessary concern- it isn’t something worth worrying herself over.

“Anyways, thanks for indulging me- it was a useful answer. I’ll make sure to remember it.”

Satisfied, I switch gears.

“You said that Commander Kingsleigh wanted to see us?”

I stand up and dust myself off, making sure to check that I’m in presentable condition. Once that’s done, I return my gaze to Catherine, as if signaling to her that I’m ready to go at any moment.

[Airen]

Cosmos Fairchild
Rose Cross Headquarters - Hospital Wing, Cafeteria
Monday - Noon

"Sure."

An honest answer, one that was made without even the slightest hint of hesitation from the -technically younger- girl.

"I think a Cross-Faction assignment shouldn't be very different from the usual," explaining herself cheerfully, the question does seem to have caused the girl to halt for a moment in her merciless assault on a certain cooked bird, "I mean, we all might be from different places, but our ultimate goal is the same right? To protect humanity? Heck, it'd be easier than talking with pure strangers, after all, if everyone is a Tamer then we're certain to have at least one thing in common with them!"

Of course, that's a general answer that's not quite as targeted to you specifically as you'd like, but-

"So it should be perfectly doable for you. You might seem a bit shy from time to time, but it's not like you're weak or anything; just make sure to keep your head high! Worst case scenario, I'll beat up any bullies you run into!"

An energetic statement whose ending kinda contradicts the whole "get along to protect humanity" bit, as well as conveniently ignores the fact that she might not get picked for this hypothetical mission at all... But it is a declaration that rings of a certain earnestness in spite of those facts-!

Still...

While she's speaking cheerfully, and in a manner that's making it hard for you to interject...

Your eyes are drawn to a certain 'reality' in the hospital room directly behind her, namely, Miyu's room and it's fluttering curtains, yes...

"I don't even mind becoming the subject of a national incident for it, heck, getting on tv for a fist fight might be fun~!"

While she doesn't seem to notice anything strange behind her -because she isn't looking at it- you yourself can't help but pick up on it due to your years of training as a Tamer forcing your mind to pick up on 'small details,' namely...

...There are two 'feet' just beneath the still rippling curtains of the brightly lit room, as if...

Someone was standing behind it.

[palad1n]

Cosmos Fairchild
Rose Cross Headquarters - Hospital Wing, Cafeteria
Monday - Noon

The thought of the calories she'd gain from eating the chicken, and her honest feeling of gratitude for Saria's earnestness in trying to reassure her, vanished from Cosmos' mind the moment she noticed the feet behind the curtain.

It was the first time in all the years she'd live in Vatican that Cosmos had felt a sense of wrongness from the scene before her, from something so small and inconspicuous; no, it was precisely because it's so inconspicuous and easily missed that she could clearly felt a sense of dread. She had been sitting facing Miyu's room this entire time, so naturally she'd notice if someone were to enter the ESPer's room through the door.

The fact that nobody had entered the room - at least through normal means - could only mean two things.

The first is that Miyu had miraculously awakened, and is now standing up behind the curtain; this is the more logical explanation, and her nature as an ESPer means she shouldn't have trouble in immediately standing up after being in a coma for a while. The second is that someone had entered the room with means other than through the door - a prospect that is more unlikely than the first, but much more concerning if true. Teleportation magic isn't a spell that anyone can just use after all, and the thought of someone visiting a room full of comatose patient like that...

'Is quite concerning, to say the least.' Her COMP finished, a hint of wariness present in her voice.

Thankfully, nothing had happened yet; Saria is still speaking cheerfully, and it seems she's the only one who had noticed the oddity in the room. That doesn't mean she should stay still and do nothing about it, which is why she wordlessly held her hand up - a sign for Saria to be quiet - before pointing to the room behind the girl while standing up from her chair with nary a noise. And then, calmly and without a sign of distress or panic, she started to walk to the door.

Cosmos didn't prepare her rosary; Mary's lesson of pacifism is strongly planted in her mind, and whether the feet belonged to Miyu herself or someone else, entering a hospital room prepared for battle and causing panic wouldn't end well for everyone - especially the patients. She knew this - and Saria definitely does too - and she knew that both Illia and the girl will have her back if anything were to happen.

Thus, pushing down her sense of unease and praying for the best, Cosmos entered the room, hopeful that whatever awaits could be solved by talking.

[Airen]

Raz Stone
Forest, Treetops
Monday - Morning

A ghostly chuckle.

The sound of wind rustling through bones, as a demon that had waited patiently for it's next opponent to arrive, seems to judge for itself that you are amusing to it in some way. It's an effect that is somewhat disconcerting... Yes, even with the world-wide spread of magical knowledge making these sorts of things more and more common in one's daily life, the gently swaying figure of a chuckling skeleton -one staring at you with eyes that are simultaneously lacking and full of life- is one that seems to suck the vibrancy from the world as it goes...

Although the concert is quick to reestablish itself.

Of course when it comes to things it might be laughing about, it's not hard to make a guess as to the cause of it; the idea that one would go out of their way to positively enchant an opponent is one that it might just find baffling on a fundamental level... Yes, it could understand going out of your way to aid your fellow Tamers, but to play 'fair' to that extent?

Yes...

All it can do there is chuckle, chuckle and...

"I see... A unique brand of fool, a bard rather than a knight. You wish to fight alongside them rather than face me alone? Is that the form your power takes? Is it for your own sake? Or is it for theirs?"

The tone of it's voice gives away next to nothing, but the words themselves... It seems almost like it doesn't quite approve of that sort of tactic, or perhaps isn't sure if it should approve of such things or not, as if the motivation itself was more important than the actual act of turning this into a battle of one against many, but...

"Very well, I'll admit I'm curious. Are you a coward who cannot fight alone? A lone twig in a fasces? Or is there something more to this? You three below, do as you will. I release you from your binds."

...At the same time, it goes out of it's way to ensure everyone here can attack it together if they wish without violating their personal codes, but-

"But I do apologize humans. If it is more than a one-on-one duel, then I am afraid I will have to use a bit more of my magic than usual... It may become painful, but endure it with grace. You will not die."

-it's spiritual power explodes out, a crimson light bursting forth like an erupting star as an absurd amount of energy gathers around it's form.

Of course, Spiritual Power -otherwise known as Reiki- is something everyone possesses in the modern day, although the degree, amount, and intensity of it varies from person to person; it is the excess power generated by the soul, so closely tied to it that it could almost be called a supernatural manifestation of one's emotions and fighting spirit, being channeled for the purpose of reinforcing one's body or performing supernatural phenomena, and that's why...

Powerful 'feelings' can often be felt 'radiating' from powerful spirit users, which is what makes gathering large amounts of magic for powerful spells or ambushes difficult to accomplish without specific training or spells to make up for it, but...

---But in this case, it just feels cold, like a void, a power that is distressingly close in nature to that possessed by 'fiend' type demons (who acted as embodiments of death) but...

Even more than that...

The sheer density of it is like a shock-wave erupting out from where the skeletal warrior stands, one that you 'ride' back calmly, training taking over as your body automatically moved to keep itself in a controlled state, bracing against the back of the stage and avoiding the fate of being knocked clean off your feet, where the brief moment of weakness might cripple you before this dance can really begin, but-!

From the beginning, it had never planned on chasing after you even if it did manage to blast you away from it, no...

What this particular demon had meant to do...

Was simply activate a certain 'magic' without being interrupted by anyone, and a black fog erupts out from it's body to blanket the forest in what must certainly be a form of bounded field and-

---A pinprick of pain assaults your left hand, as a number etches itself there painfully, as if someone had started dragging a knife along the surface of your skin with reckless abandon; of course your life as a Tamer had put you on the receiving end of far worse wounds than this, but there's something bizarre about the pain that makes you glance it's way, revealing a crimson 30 sitting atop the back of your hand like a cursed tattoo. While the feeling had been like a knife digging into your hands there is no dripping blood or obvious wound, it's more like a stamp of some sort, a sort of countdown, judging by the way it slowly seems to be shifting towards a 29, and...

---There's a certain icy chill in the air, one that is only fought back by the song that you had never once stopped playing... Demons do not typically use Harmonizers, but a number of them are capable of utilizing similar phenomena completely through their own powers, so the idea that it had just poured all that magic into this particular field of black mist is one that immediately comes to mind, but...

A countdown... Huh...?

---Somehow, all the ideas that come to mind about it's purpose are unpleasant.

Demons typically had a far easier time than humans using Conceptual Magic after all-!

"I am not one for long shows. Any act that overstays it's welcome will be thrown boldly from the stage-! No exceptions!"

Still... You are not allowed to ponder it for too long, as-

-the thrust of a rapier at your chest -and the single step that had seemed to fire it's entire body like a bullet towards you- makes it clear that the skeletal warrior has designed you as it's true opponent.

---It's fast.

It's presence demanding so much of your attention that the others fade from your line of sight due to the fog, it is a charge that is straightforward enough that your amped body could certainly parry or dodge it, but-

Something about how straightforward it is... Also comes across to you as strange...

But at the same time, if it was focused entirely on you...

----

Name: Matador
Character Type: Demon (Fiend?)

Stats

VIT: ???
AGI: B
SEN: B

Racial Skill (Demonic Variation of an Auto Skill, cannot be broken through Harmonizer destruction, but also can't be changed as easily (if at all) by the character)

Reminder of Mortality: As a manifestation of "Death," wounds dealt by the Matador cannot be healed through supernatural or mundane means; affects even those it doesn't know exist around it.

Spells

-Grim Reaper (Limited)-
Rank: B
Type: Spirit
A mysterious spell that manifests as a bounded field, usually possessed by Fiends, although those who manipulate time such as Chronos are known to have 'similar' powers. Inflicts a Timer on everyone within the field that counts down to their defeat, if the Timer is allowed to reach 0, the character will be instantly defeated on the spot, although endure effects may stave off this fate momentarily. Having high Willpower at the moment of casting seems to indicate that one will have a higher timer, although this is not confirmed to be quite that simple. Originally a spell that killed enemies outright, the Matadors rejection of it's original conception as a form of "Death" has led to this power weakening enough that it inflicts "sleep" on others rather than "death."

Should have other effects that create an "ideal" field of black fog for "ending lives," such as causing those inside of it to give up on wanting to live entirely, but the Matador is either unwilling or unable to manifest those effects in this moment. As a result, the spell itself is considered to be incomplete, and has returned to the level of a more traditional Trump Card.

Weak enough entities would not manifest a Timer at all, and would simply be rendered unconscious immediately.

[Airen]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR ~ Flight Deck (North)
Monday ~ Morning

"..."

The only response you get from the two of them is a silent shuffle of their feet, one designed to better brace their bodies amidst the storm of howling winds that continued to surround you even now... Of course, you don't exactly need words to get an idea of how others are feeling, and returning your mind to it's normal state -a shielded one that was nevertheless receptive to the thoughts and feelings of others- you are able to get a grasp on something... concerning...

For the taller one, the one with a more masculine build, there's simply a sense of resolve so strong that it's comparable in nature to a machine; he is someone who has come here for a specific reason, and is mentally prepared to bash his way through any obstacles that might appear in his path... It's a resolve so stainless and pure that your ability to pick up on it is easy, because it is the state of mind of someone who has no intention of hiding his 'will' from others, standing as a beacon of determination that screams that he's the more powerful of the two, but...

Lara...

Where the cloaked man had a relentless resolve, your older sister was experiencing a storm of contradictory thoughts... Both positive and negative in nature, as if her very existence was in flux, the only description you can give it is an emotional storm, the sort of thing that should leave a person a shaking, sobbing, laughing wreck, but that has gotten nothing but an uncharacteristic silence from your normally kind-hearted older sister.

---Needless to say that's not normal in the slightest, thus, having already determined that you must capture her if possible -even if you had yet to confirm her face with your own two eyes- you ask your aunt -the Commander- for a favor, citing family business as the reason... Of course, it is likely that she knows who "Lara Karlfeldt" is, after all, the excuse of family business is one that she could easily use for the sake of disregarding your request, as it seemed she was someone that didn't exactly approve of the presence of "evil" within the family, but...

---It is also true that while she is powerful, Adala prefers not to kill others if she can help it.

"Very well, but fall back if you feel you can't handle it. Anna is on standby for emergency retreats."

---That's all she says about it before disappearing from sight.

Of course, it is not a teleport spell, it is her own sense of speed that has her simply reappearing before her chosen opponent in the span of a single step, hand cocked back to throw a barrage of punches that all shatter the sound barrier as -even more impressively- the man deflects the storm of punches with movements that are akin to a boxers, a sound like a shotgun blast going off as his body is forced back by her last fist, stance remaining decisively unbroken as the two of them dart off into what seems to be their own little world, removing themselves from 'your' battlefield in a manner quite fitting for the Commander...

The fact that she hadn't managed to defeat her opponent instantly is somewhat concerning, but since you have been granted the task you wished for, you put your trust in your legendarily invincible aunt, and focus your gaze entirely on your sister, because...

To look away from a hostile Tamer is a mistake that can easily be crippling, the strongest of them are akin to demons in many ways, modern-day heroes that will capitalize on any chance given to them to defeat opponents that are often manifestations of legends and ideas in and of themselves... She hadn't flinched at all when the other two had started their battle, seemingly keeping her gaze focused on you for a similar reason, but while she won't talk...

---A footstep.

She starts to approach you slowly, five of the drones following along after her as if in gentle pursuit of their mistress... It's different from the opening sound-breaker shattering dashes Tamers usually employ, a completely calm walk that gives nothing of the rampaging emotions inside of her head away, and as she reaches you...

"..."

...She holds out her hand, as if she wanted you to shake it.

To say there was no hostile intent would be a lie, but at the same time...

She seems to be feeling every emotion possible all at once.

[hero]

Amamiya Sho
Aoyama, LOVELESS Shopping Mall
Monday - Morning


"Believe me, nothing scares me more than doing Monday's chores on an empty stomach. Besides, there is no way I can just go home and pretend nothing happened while you go around playing superhero. I certainly hope that's not the image you have of me..."

With Nadia's bike being the only available means I have to catch the thief given the speed at which she moves, I have already made my decision on the matter. With that in mind, I make an extra effort to play it cool in spite of Starr's words and the promise of a downright insane ride that her vehicle represents. Her style is reckless in more ways than one, but she's sincere. She's not the kind of girl who'd drag people to do things they do not want to do. I fear she might insist on leaving me behind if I let my fears be exposed, so I quickly catch up to her and prepare to get on the bike. Now, I am not completely clueless as to how a good passenger is supposed to behave, so I wait until the driver is ready before finding a space to sit.

"... Why is it that whenever we meet, someone gets kidnapped?"

Perhaps feeling the need to say something in order to cover my anxiety somewhat, I can't help but voice a curious thought. Sure, last time things played out quite differently, seeing as WE were the ones kidnapped, not our demons, but that's still one 'funny' coincidence. The average person would argue that it could all be the work of fate, but I am not a big fan of that theory. Most likely, it's just life shitting on me (or us, in this case) again.

Well, if there is one thing to feel relieved about is the new intel on the Starr's bike. Out of all members of her group, Aurora is the one I am the least familiar with. With wild personalities like Jack and Nadia around, it's easy for her to fall into the background, much like my own Comp AI. BUT, she appears to be the reliable-type, so she'll most likely do something to prevent us crashing into an obstacle at ridiculously dangerous speeds.

In hindsight, Nadia is the kind of girl who'd never go for auto-pilot, so perhaps I shouldn't be so hopeful...

"O.K." I take a deep breath, before putting the helmet on. "We have a thief to catch. Let's go."

[Airen]

Amamiya Sho
Aoyama, City Escape
Monday - Morning

"I know right? It's pretty weird, but I guess it's just our fate."

Words spoken with little more than a shrug and a grin, as you steel yourself for the somewhat traumatizing ride that awaits you in the future. Yes, it's certainly strange that each of your interactions has led to some member of this little group being captured by someone or something, but being a bit more idealistic than you, the girl accepts it as little more than a "strange fate," even as you mentally deride life for going out of it's way to crush whatever fleeting sparks of happiness had begun to show themselves to you again-!

But then again, this is the usual for you, something you will be able to brush aside soon enough... To her it is likely something akin to an adventure, so she's handling it pretty well due to it's inherently exciting nature, and-

"Gotcha. Do your best to hold on Amamiya-!"

-inserting a strange drill-like 'key' into a slot on her crimson bike, the roar of the bike's engines kicking to life is accompanied by the smooth sounds of the windshield extending out from a panel on the front of the bike, jet engines emerging from the sides of the wheels as the vehicles automatic balance systems kick online, a devil-may-care grin crossing the red-haired woman's face as the sheer size of her bike's wheels have the two of you hovering a good two feet off of the ground... It's certainly a motorcycle that wouldn't have been usable by a normal person a decade or so ago, just looking at it, hell, hearing it's engines roar with a ferocity that almost seems to shake the city... It's a vehicle that clearly requires both supernatural strength and skill to use competently, a plume-based A.I can certainly help with those sorts of things, but Nadia was probably the type that liked manual control...

"All systems green! I'll keep an eye on nearby traffic, so go for it Nadia! Max speed!"

She had never once crashed -although there had been near misses- and she is certainly famous for her skill when it comes to avoiding obstacles at outrageous speeds, but even so... It takes some effort to keep your cool at first, doing your best not to squeeze her stomach too hard -after all, she was really the only thing you could cling to- but you're sure that you'll adjust to it after a bit on the road like you always do...

At least mostly used to it anyway...

---Yes, that was certainly your plan, and considering that she had always been a bit more 'reasonable' when it came to driving on roads that civilians would also use, it's a plan that seems destined to work.

And if the trail had stayed within the city limits, it certainly would have worked for the entirety of the journey. While she took turns at speeds that made you feel ill, and had a habit of weaving into and out of lanes at speeds that would give most pause, such things remain in the realm of normal "speeding," of someone simply pushing down on the accelerator as far as it would go, lacking the constant near-misses and slides that she was famous for, but...

Eventually, the path moves from the city to the surrounding forests, heading for what looked like the abandoned buildings of one of the SDCD's old training buildings. Having done your best to combat anxiety and help your temporary partner by reading the map, the direction the fairy takes has put you deep into the depths of a forest without roads.

Does this stop her?

No, not really.

In the old world, she would have needed your help to tilt the bike past obstacles when necessary, but in this case her A.I seems to be her true copilot; engines kick on and off rhythmically, the bike weaving it's way flawlessly through trees, shrubbery, and even over gaps without slowing down, and-

"So, any idea why you were targeted? Any enemies? Or is Aeon-brand food good enough to commit crimes over? Or is this just that bad luck you talked about last time?"

-she seems to talk just as casually as her bike moves, completely fine with the fact that both of your bodies were rapidly tilting from side to side as you weaved through a forest of trees with the absolute bare minimum of movements.

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
Rose Cross ~ Command Chambers
Monday – Morning

While much of the Rose Cross's architecture was archaic and classical at a glance, the heart of the organization's bases were just as technological as those possessed by the other main factions.

It is an obvious result, while humanity is much more powerful now than it had used to be two decades ago, they are only truly able to take advantage of that power through use of magi-tech devices, such as COMPs and Harmonizer Generators... While this association is a religious one at it's heart, to deny humanity's progress in these areas would be foolish, a waste of the gifts God has granted mankind to allow them to better acquit themselves against those who would oppose them, and so it is only natural that even the church has embraced science in these modern days.

It too, is one of mankind's "powers" after all...

Still, the dull blue light that flows out from the monitors is tranquil in and of itself; the information on display there is relatively normal, compiling information from the world-wide Harmonizer Field to pinpoint the general locations of particularly powerful or illegal supernatural phenomena... Nothing particularly out of place seems to be present, barring a strange -albeit weak- signal that seems to be coming from the North Pole, but seeing as how that area wasn't in your jurisdiction (or any of the Major Factions really), it was likely the sort of thing the NWAB would wind up resolving themselves, so you push it from your thoughts as Catherine leads the way through the sterile and silent hallways of the underground complex.

After all, the Vice Director was calling you; if there was something you needed to be worried about, the higher-ups would have already told you about it, yes...

Commander Kingsleigh, also known as "Mary's Hand" and the "Knight Commander," due to her status as the battlefield leader of the Rose Cross. A kind-hearted woman whose aura was akin to that of a modern-day saint, she was seemingly the most laid-back of the Organization at a glance, a person that doesn't seem to worry about anything, and instead goes out of her way to shoulder the burdens of others...

It's not out of naivety, rather, the feeling you get is that she's able to be so relaxed because she is completely confident in her own abilities. It's the aura of someone who has successfully managed to self-actualize themselves in spite of her sensory disadvantage, but-

"Commander Kingsleigh. You called for us?"

-she's also a bit quirky, and somewhat enigmatic; she knows how to write so she can't have been born blind, and she operates so well in the world that she seemingly doesn't need her eyes at all, but she never talks about exactly what had happened to her either... It feels like the one taboo topic she possesses, something off-limits even to a person who operated as a sort of "casual saint."

"Yes, yes. Please come in and sit down."

A long silver table that leads to a desk and a super-computer, where the blind Commander is nevertheless browsing through various holographic menus with the practiced flick of her fingers. Walking into the Command Room is much like walking into a meeting room, but the inhabitants today are lacking, other than you and Catherine there is only the Commander at her desk, and her adopted daughter -Alyx- standing in the corner of the room with her arms crossed and her eyes closed, a semi-delinquent pose that isn't nearly as reverent as Catherine's, although that may just be familial familiarity bleeding through here...

Of course, you sit down when she gestures you to; there is a large glass of milk and two pieces of toast on the desk next to the Commander, so it seems she had been dragged here herself from the breakfast hall, and...

"Don't worry, there's nothing bad happening here today, I merely wished to see if the three of you would be interested in an optional assignment."

...Perhaps as a mark of this, she too goes gently to what the point of her calling you here was, as if a bit apologetic that she was potentially ruining someone's breakfast hours.

"It would be out of country, and the length of the assignment itself is not yet clear. But we were asked to put forth a number agents for a Cross-Faction assignment, with the goal of strengthening the connections between the Organizations... So if you are interested in that sort of thing, I would appreciate it if you would tell me now. I believe all of you to be capable, but I am attempting to gauge interest amongst our agents."