Spirit Pulse : Mugen No Sekai [IC]

[Rafflesiac]

Amelia
Digital Sea ~ ???
??? ~ ???

According to Burroughs, the odd tower and glitching in the simulator were some sort of mostly aborted invasion or summoning, and she’d been the one to stop it. She was able to block it, but not send it back? Even though she had the power to isolate a COMP from their frame? That didn’t bode well for Logan, or for the other racers. In that case, she ought to head back as quickly as possible. But this was just too mysterious. Who was Burroughs to wield such power and what was she watching for? And most importantly-

"I didn't scare you earlier, did I miss...?"

Amelia sighed.

“You surprised me. It’s not every day that an AI gets popped out of their mainframe, you know. Especially without agreeing to it beforehand. That’s what we Tamers would call kidnapping - a felony.”

Her countenance stern, Amelia reached out to Burroughs… and patted her on the head, ruffling her hair.

: “But you’re a minor, so I won’t press charges. Good work on stopping so much of that trespasser, whatever it is.”

Dealing with other people was about as pleasant as going through a rainstorm on a wooden rollercoaster, which is why Amelia avoided it whenever possible. And kids? They made Beelzebub look angelic, the leaky weepy clumsy squishy silly rowdy ignorant self-centered little buggers. But even in their mischief and mistakes, children didn’t bear malice. That was something the weak and cruel of the world infected them with. Never respond to a child with malice. Scolding begets knowledge and improvement, not satisfaction. And even if she wasn’t a parent or an owner, there was a child in front of her. It was her responsibility and privilege to leave Burroughs better off than before. After a final rub, Amelia lifted her hand and summoned a pen, twirling it on her fingers.

“Now, does this happen often? Big things being summoned? And is this friend of yours the person who told you to watch for things?”

[Katie]

Ayra Lilygrove
Junes ~ Rooftop
??? - Morning

In that scant moment, as soon as she understands that Joker has been disarmed, Ayra Lilygrove has already made her decision.

Methodically thinking through combat has never been her strong suit. She has always trusted her gut, let instinct guide her hands when push comes to shove, and even now she bets it all off her intuition. Aster is barely within range to help support her spellcasting. Her opponent is disarmed and she isn’t.

Even if her opponent looks calm as can be, it doesn’t matter. She has to trust in herself. The opportunity is right there.

If she hesitates, it’s gone.

“Galeforce.”

The winds howl—air surging and collapsing as Ayra tears past the sound barrier—as she forgets the reason why she is here. In the heat of the moment, there’s no ruse to keep up, no deceit to establish. Ayra is a proud Knight who can’t stand the thought of losing. A perfectionist like herself couldn’t stand the idea that her sweat and tears would lead to defeat. That’s why as she reflexively trusts her heart to guide her, she ceases to want to “put on a convincing show,” but yearns victory instead.

It’s evident in her swordplay.

Taking advantage of the brief moment where Galeforce is beyond the speed of even cameras to capture, she forgoes the elegant waltz of Regnal Astra, her blade sailing in a clean arc of practicality. Eclipse—the technique she has honed as Joker—is on prominent display, as she aims for victory through overwhelming force. If her opponent can see through all her ruses, she’ll gladly discard them. Ice shreds at her skin from the sheer speed, regardless of Tsukiko’s help, but it doesn’t matter.

Ayra wants to prove she can touch the untouchable with her own strength. Nothing else matters—not even herself.

-----

Auto-Skill: Double Lion (Physical strikes hit twice)
Casted: Galeforce (Eclipse)
Heat: 9/10 -> 9/9
Spells: Galeforce, Excalibur, Light Brand, Glimmer, Garu line, Aura Shield, Phantasm Step, Return

[Tobias]

Raz Stone
Merlin's Tower

It was hard to explain what it was like for a long term COMP user, such as a knight, to suddenly have to relearn to observe the world without his COMP. That went triple for a support COMP user. Raz was used to having a wealth of knowledge and expert advice available, along side the mild stimulant effect that increased his clarity of thought. Support users had trouble describing the sensation save by "it feels like you are moving quicker through time."

Needless to say, it was a difficult concept to explain, but an amazing advantage in battle, one even equal to the amazing defenses and attack capabilities available to more naturally offensive Tamers.

...Needless to say, suddenly and unexpectedly being without such, on top of a recent and significant blow to the head, gave Raz a feeling rather like being drunk, swimming through sand, and struggling with a detox headache after having gone 3 days without any caffeine.

His reaction to such was of course, entirely predictable.

"A favor given by a fair maiden! What knight could receive such and not feel his heart swell with a magic greater then anything we Tamer's use." Raz said, with a theatrical salute towards his benefactor.

The weapon in his hands was a strange one, at least for the members of Avalon. There were only two sword styles Raz had ever studied. Certainly martial training had been in his back ground, but before he had gained the DTG, he could never have been looked at as anything other then a mediocre warrior. One of the swords with which he had skill was not available. Merlin might have been able to summon that Holy Sword. but even if she chose to do so, she would hardly see fit to bequeath it to a bard. And indeed, she had not.

...However, there was another weapon...and weapon style...which the black haired bard could be describes as having familiarity with. Not master's level...not expert level...not even journeyman's level skill...but experience with.

The fact that he was now holding the sword that one used this skill with raised so many questions. Had it adapted itself to his hand, becoming a weapon he could use through merlin's magic...or perhaps had Merlin selected it for him? If so, popular or not, the fact that she would know to hand him this blade suggested a surprising level of either foreknowledge about Merlin, or more likely, gave credence to the rumors of her Clairvoyance that could see to the Truth of things.

Because otherwise...how the hell would she have known to give Raz a freaking katana?!

The katana was an eastern weapon. And it was a weak one. The smiths of the east had not had access to the steel forging techniques that the knights of Avalon and other western organizations utilized. Because of the skill of western smiths and the availability of steel, good, strong, plentiful steel, weapons like the broadsword and heavy steel armor had come to by.

However limited by supply, eastern sword smiths had utilized a pattern of patiently folded steel, dozens, hundreds of times to create a weapon. They refined swordcrafting into the opposite of science and so crafted weapons of flawless beauty.

To put that another way...

A katana was a weapon that used art to compensate for limitations of strength. Such was Raz stone.

By coincidence or design, where once he held a microphone, in his left hand Raz held a simple sheathed katana, a folded steel blade held in a simple container of lacquered wood.

...If Raz had one qualm with his temporary armament, it was that the sheathe was a little bland. Though the blade of light itself was beyond beautiful, that sheathe needed a makeover.

Come on man, its a knight's weapon, bestowed by freaking merlin, it could use some pizass!

Nevertheless, armed, he could fight. In theory, the correct option was a delaying tactic,. Stand in front of Merlin, buy some time for his allies. Time was on his side. However...there were two things wrong with that. First was tactical. There was heavy suggestion that more enemies were soon to appear. Therefor, thinning numbers...for example this shadow directly in front of him could keep him from being overwhelmed.

Secondly... with a girl behind me, COMP or not, I still have to be a knight!

When Raz took a running leap, jumped off the wall and towards the dripping shadow holding the still sheathed sword, two things became apparent.

First.. Certainly he was weaker then normal. Without his myriad of buffs propelling him, his fortifying song granting him healing and magic, he was not very impressive. However...where most COMP users were specialist, Raz was not. Many knights overtrained in their field, achieving the highest grade of prowess in doing whatever they felt they needed to do. However, as a result of that, other skills were left at a desultory level. Degraded, no better then any normal person.

As a support COMP user, Raz might have been expected to spike his reasoning skills, his ranged poer, his defenses, declining to work on the same skills that had served him well against the matador...and now, when he had to fight as a knight and not as a bard.

To put that another way...Raz Stone didn't skimp leg day!

The second thing that came to mind as Raz passed the shadow was his form. Obviously, he had to make use of some technique or strategy. There was a particular form that was widely mocked in the martial arts field. Derided as at best a single technique, at worst a fanciful aberration of weapon craft.

Maybe for a knight whose preferred mode of combat was to stride into battle and sing at his enemies, the mocking of that technique made him feel a certain kinship with it. Or perhaps he simply admired the purity of it. Certainly, the single arc of golden light that burst into light for just a single moment and then dimmed as it was immediately re-sheathed could be called beautiful, as could the single, almost musical chink of iron and the hum of a blade moving through the air, for once the only music played by the young knight.

Yes...the second question raised by the bard's attack was...

What the hell...Raz Stone knows iaijutsu?!!!

wise up!

STR:C
AGI: C
VIT: B

[Zurvan]

Ludwig Karlfeldt
Depths of a Dream (?)
??? - Night

In a peculiar way, she's nicer than her adult self. There is little doubt in Ludwig's mind that were this the Commander he's used to, she'd have chased away the stranger. Even if they were willing to help, taking unknown factors into danger isn't like her.

It's a bit surprising that this version accepts the help, but it's far from the most surprising thing in this dream.

And so, as if it's the most natural thing in the world to do, Ludwig follows along.

While the idea of running from danger should be natural to the average person...

...the very idea gains no ground in Ludwig's mind.

Not surprising really, Tamers are abnormal existences after all.

Some more abnormal than others.

Like a certain Lagerkvist here, whose aura had been less polished in this time and with it revealed a most interesting characteristic.

Divinity.

Yet, her newly revealed origin didn't really matter. The Commander was the Commander, whether she turned out to be a Goddess, a demon or a human, she was someone worth following. Worth getting to know. And there's no time like the present-but-past to learn more about her.

"Have you taken on many students, Miss Lagerkvist? You seem like you'd be a good mentor. Harsh but fair, strengthening them to the point that enhanced gravity doesn't even faze them."

Words of wonder, with a slight hint of remembrance, leave Ludwig's mouth as he breaks the silence.

"So, what's going on with the town and Loki? Has he lost control of himself, or did someone else?"

-----------------------Meanwhile-----------------------

Lydia Karlfeldt
SLEIPNIR - Deck
??? - Night
Meanwhile back on the deck, a peculiarity has started to form. While the User is most certainly locked into some kind of state, there's no reason why his COMP would be limited to this same state.

Lydia has snuck around beyond Ludwig's knowing before, somehow finding herself into casual chats with Rothschild members. She was always the more easy going one of the pair, so her presence here now isn't too odd.

No, what is instead odd is that, rather than her usual smile, she...

"Alexia Wright, affiliated with the NWAB, former teacher of Adala Lagerkvist."

...Seems a bit more ominous than usual.


"And now, wanting to be granted the title of Big Sis for little Lud. My, my."

The Big sister COMP approaches Alexia, her face not budging on her sour expression.

"I can smell you're a good person, but calling yourself a Big Sis...You know what that means, don't you~~~?

Her expression holds, even if the facade starts to drop as her usual silly behavior starts to present itself.

"For me to recognize you as befitting of that title, you must prove yourself a real Big Sister first!"

And after losing the expression entirely, she makes a declaration that can only lead to trouble.

[Airen]

Mokujima Chris
??? ~ ???
??? - ???

---Naturally, there's no guarantee of what will happen once you pull the switch again, considering it appeared to have inherently supernatural properties to it. There was a possibility that repeating the earlier motion would return you to the 'real ship,' but there was also the possibility that it would drag you down deeper into whatever this was, or spit you out somewhere else entirely...

Considering it seemed to be a form of 'defense system,' anything could happen in theory; it might not even be possible to take this body out along with you, so...

You just pull it once.

Just a single time, with the intention of turning the lights back on, and thankfully...

They click to life with no real trouble.

---The appearance of that light brings with it clarity, and with that clarity, a pang of sympathy for the broken android you've once again splayed across the surface of the bed as gingerly as you are able with your somewhat weaker body, and...

...It's certainly a shame.

Looking at the features of the robotic woman in front of you, it's clear that whoever built her had done so with a great deal of care... There were next to no flaws in her appearance, or at least, if one ignored the massive hole in her stomach, it would be easy to say that her appearance was 'flawless,' of course, such things aren't uncommon for those who are artificially created through human hands, after all, what's the sense in purposefully putting flaws onto the body of someone else? For most, such a thing would go against their pride as a creator, of course...

There may be a few reasons why one would wish to do so, but if one looked at their creations as something akin to their 'children,' well...

There was no reason to apply flaws.

---Still.

The radiant silver hair and clear blue eyes are haunting in their lack of focus, but that doesn't take away from her beauty, no... If something were to do that, it would be the hole in her chest, a hole that was now obviously a wound, now that you were looking at it in a somewhat more hospitable environment... The metal at the front of her body was pushed out slightly, like someone or something had punched a hole through her body from behind... Some sort of sneak attack? It was obviously the source of her malfunction, and considering it's nature as the only wound on the body, it seems to have been one that was enough to take her down in one shot...

The internals made her inhuman nature much more clear; there was obvious wiring, wiring that seemed to be something akin to the 'magic circuits' used in today's COMPs, but only akin to it...

Yes.

The material is slightly different, thicker, coated in a material that's somewhat unfamiliar, although the rest of her seems to more or less match the usual sorts of schematics... In that regard, she's not too dissimilar to the ship, which was both 'familiar and unfamiliar' at the same time, and not only that, now that you're looking into the area to see how bad the damage actually is -and perhaps more importantly, whether or not her core seems to be intact- you are able to find it by looking up, towards her heart, the place where the plume is symbolically placed in these sorts of androids, and...

...There it is, shining ever so slightly in a show of what might be continued cognitive activity, but...

Near it...

There's some sort of... Black substance?

Like tar?

Or perhaps... Mud?

Either way, the substance is coating the girl's 'heart' and seems to have hardened around it, dimming a light that was already pretty dim...

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
New London ~ Entertainment District
World Designation: Revolution (?)
Morning, Foggy

…


…

…

……………?....??...?..?.?.???.?????

There is something weird about this image.

On one hand, there is the retreating blur. It’s the silhouette of a boy who just ran off with Agatha’s attempted fountain donation. It’s a blunder on my part to let my guard down and allow this to happen, but even putting that aside, his speed is certainly impressive considering the other people here. Currently getting further and further away, every second.

And on the other hand… it’s Agatha. She doesn’t seem at all displeased with having lost a bag of gold- rather, she seems to be enjoying the situation. Currently shows no sign of pursuing the robber at all.

… I don’t understand.

“Um… is it-”

-Is it really okay to just let him get further and further away?

Is what I was going to ask, but I stop myself mid-sentence. And the reason for that is…

… I think there’s a nonzero chance that she’ll say that it’s fine. Maybe even lucky, since she still has another half to throw in the fountain for her wish. She might even be pleased with this turn of events, as strange as it is.

Well…

If I think about it, the thought process isn’t entirely incomprehensible.

The contents of the bag were clearly never very important to her. They were something she could casually throw in a fountain of dubious function- her own version of loose change, so to speak… although the sheer value of it makes it hard to think like that, assuming it really is what she claims. Since she doesn’t get out much, being robbed is more a novelty than anything, especially since it isn’t anything of importance. This is sort of like a rare tourist event to her, presumably.

In that sense, it’s entirely reasonable that she might not view it as anything much, hence her reaction.

But I…

…

... am a spirit tamer, which is sort of like part of the police. Even if I am off duty, this is clearly a crime committed with supernatural powers. It would be remiss of me to not do at least attempt action. It’s also entirely possible this world isn’t equipped to handle criminals with superhuman abilities too, and so responsibility might naturally fall to those who can.

Yeah. Judging by the contents, it would be theft over 500 dollars.

After thinking this over, I amend my words.

“Agatha. Would it be alright if I apprehended that boy just now…?”

Of course, I understand this is a rare moment for Agatha to leave the Velvet Room- part of the reason she seems to be enjoying anything and everything going on. If she would much rather spend her time ignoring him, then that would be that. I could just… pretend it didn’t happen, I guess.

But judging by his speed…

“It shouldn’t take long, I think.”

[Airen]

Amelia
Digital Sea ~ ???
??? ~ ???

"Pulling them out to talk with me is... Kidnapping, huh?"

---At first, she had seemed incredibly upset by this revelation; and indeed, to the A.I, it did appear to be a sort of revelation, something that she hadn't quite put together inside of her head... Of course, to her you were a stranger, but her behavior up until now had clearly been intended to not only come across as 'friendly' to you, but to 'show off' to you a bit, in that regard...

It probably meant that she cared about what you thought... For one reason or another...

No, considering she had bothered to ask if she had offended you...

She almost certainly cared about what you thought... Which was strange, but... Then again...

She didn't seem very experienced when it came to interacting with others, and, spotting that, the potential to impart a lesson in a more meaningful way here, you...

Pat her on the head; it's a bit awkward for you, considering your usual stance on interacting with people that aren't Logan, but-!

"Often? No! Not at all!"

It seems to work.

From sulking to beaming in a heartbeat-!

"Well, nothing this big anyway! Those sorts of things are regulated so it's normally not possible, it caught me a bit by surprise too, but it seems someone hacked this server-! Probably couldn't do it outside of a simulation... Although I don't have enough data to make a decisive statement on the matter!"

...She assaults others with cheer, a pure untainted sense of happiness, as if she was enjoying being this sort of 'useful' to someone, or perhaps...

Was just enjoying the act of talking to someone at all?

"As for my friend... No, he's not the one who ordered me to observe the planet, that was my User. Ordinarily, protocol indicates that I am not supposed to make my presence known at all, but if it's a secret... I think it's not bad for me to help people out if I can, right?"

She puffs out her chest at this, and-

"I got that idea from my friend, I'm like, a super secret ally that villains can't see coming-!"

-seems pretty pleased with herself, all things considered!

[Rafflesiac]

Amelia
Digital Sea ~ ???
??? ~ ???

"Well, nothing this big anyway! Those sorts of things are regulated so it's normally not possible, it caught me a bit by surprise too, but it seems someone hacked this server-! Probably couldn't do it outside of a simulation... Although I don't have enough data to make a decisive statement on the matter!"

: “Regulated, huh. Regulated by who?”

There was something off about what Burroughs said, something she couldn’t quite place. ‘Hacked this server’, as in the race track? In that case, would the culprit be in the simulation, having hacked it from inside? Perhaps, but if anything being within the standard simulation program would make hacking harder, not easier. The pen flipped and twirled through all of Amelia’s fingers like a snake winding through grass as she pondered.

"As for my friend... No, he's not the one who ordered me to observe the planet, that was my User. Ordinarily, protocol indicates that I am not supposed to make my presence known at all, but if it's a secret... I think it's not bad for me to help people out if I can, right?"

User? Yeah, that made sense; for every COMP, there’s a User. And this user ordered her to watch over all of Earth? In secret, even. The pen reversed direction, twisting like a cat’s cradle.

"I got that idea from my friend, I'm like, a super secret ally that villains can't see coming-!"

: “Alright then, Secret Agent Burroughs. Glad to have you watching my back.”

That being said, being observed by someone else - in secret even - was highly disturbing. This User - this mysterious Lord Greystoke was most definitely a person of interest. Commanding a COMP like Burroughs and spying on the planet for some mysterious purpose was at the absolute least something that higher-ups needed to know about. But she didn’t know to what degree Burroughs was capable of independent action - or what repercussions that action might have. She didn’t seem to be limited like 0°C was, at the least. And it’d be a heinous sin if she was. For now, it was best to exercise caution.

The pen stopped moving. Burroughs… I went with Greystoke, but what if she’s actually in the center of the earth? Either that or outer orbit would be an ideal observation point for Earth, and a digital sea would certain be a mysterious… different… world… Like the Demonic Server. Data from Earth’s perspective, but simultaneously a fully-fledged world. Burroughs said that the thing she stopped could only get away with it because they were in a simulation within the server, but if the race track is the simulation, then…

: “What you said earlier, about the server being hacked. What do you mean by ‘server’?”

[Bloble]

Mokujima Chris
??? ~ ???
??? - ???

She was loved.

Mokujima Chris cannot be sure of many things. Of where she is, of whether it is possible to come home, of whether coincidence or fate led her here. She knows next to nothing about the girl laying on the bed before her, and even less about the ailment afflicting her. Not who the girl was, nor what she treasured, or if she even had a 'User' to begin with.

But, she can be sure of one thing: this girl was loved.

The care that an artist, a creator, a parent puts into their child - it can be seen in every curve, every strand of hair, every crease and fold and stray wire. Someone cared. Someone did their very best. In doing so, one naturally comes to love their creation, even if it is only in that moment. And so, in her certainty, Mokujima Chris has come to sure of one more thing: whoever this girl was - is - she must have had something to live for.

Chris' gently closes the broken doll's eyes, and then shuts her own.

What will it be, then? The question is loud in the silent room.

Her eyes flicker open.

The safest thing to do would be retreat, to pull on the switch twice more. Even now, knowing what she knows, there is too much risk to try anything. That mud could be anything. A corrupting virus that would kill her the moment she touched it, perhaps. Or a remnant of Sakurako's spell meant to seal magical energy. It's certainly too dangerous for a normal human without a COMP to mess with. Besides, there's no harm in waiting, right? The girl is a robot, so it's not like she's dead. Her body won't rot if left alone...

But.

That pulsing blue light... look so weak. Like a heart about to give out.

How long can a core sustain itself without outside energy, when suffocated by mud? One day? Two? How long had this girl been like this? A week? A month? A year? How long did she have left?

The answer was, likely, enough. There was no reason to panic, no reason to act rashly, no reason to worry so much over... over...

Over someone that had been loved.

"...alright. This is the last 'sorry'. From now on, it's..."

When Chris makes her choice, it is easy. As a Tamer, as a Spirit Smith, as a person, she cannot sit still and abandon someone in trouble, even if they are an android of unknown origins. To do so would go against her entire being.

So, she lays one hand across the girl's forehead, as if to reassure her. The other reaches out, into the gaping wound.

An arm.

The issue is not a mechanical one. Her investigations had revealed that much. The hole in the girl's stomach is not enough to keep her shut off for so long.

A hand.

So it must be the mud. Whatever its origin, it's clearly choking the life from the girl's core, sealing her movements, stopping magical energy from properly circulating, and preventing recovery.

A single outstretched finger, shining with magical energy...

After accepting the substantial risks, for a Tamer without a COMP, lacking the protection of the Harmonizer, the best way to help is...

...makes contact with the glowing blue core, and the consciousness within it, bearing a simple message.

To forge a connection, however temporary, and bear that burden together.

"You're going to be alright."

[Airen]

Eva Ellet
New London ~ Entertainment District
World Designation: Revolution (?)
Morning, Foggy

"Hmmm..."

---The fact that she has to think about it before answering is almost baffling, as if it was the sort of question worth putting thought into rather than one that seemed to have an obvious answer, but eventually...

"Yes, I suppose we should impart a lesson or two to the child; it is our duty as elders... Yes, I've read these sorts of stories before, a child thief, stealing things for the sake of his family back at home-! Yes, it's full of drama, a mundane but wonderful story-!"

...She agrees that it's probably the proper thing to do; not for any particularly normal reason mind you...

"It'll be here, as he slowly becomes more and more of a criminal, that the appearance of two helpful strangers will help him turn his life around early-! Yes, something like that? No... No question, I'm sure of it!"

After all...

That's way too cliche of a story to be what's actually going on here...

Still, she seems to have given you permission to go ahead and catch him if you like; of course, there is a bit of worry towards drawing too much attention to yourself if you go full force with it, so, after thinking about it for a bit...

---You decide to use the bare minimum, just enough to overtake the distant silhouette before it can completely disappear... It shouldn't take too much effort, while his speed seemed to far outstrip the rest of the humans here, you had seen civilians back home running a lot faster than this-!

Bending your knees to spring, already calculating the steps necessary to navigate the crowds and successfully pursue the target in the most efficient number of steps possible, Agatha...

Just follows along with a smile on her face-!

---

Eva Ellet
??? ~ Streets
World Designation: Revolution
Noon, Foggy

"...You're pretty fast."

Words said with something of a huff, as a youth that had not expected to be caught had been pursued by a girl that had moved in a manner much more akin to a demon than any sort of human being he had known...

It had been a surprisingly eventful chase; while the youth held a clear advantage in terms of knowing the actual layout of the city, the sheer difference in your respective speeds -even if he had sped up once he realized someone was chasing him- meant that any moment in which the two of you were on a straightaway was a moment in which you were quickly gaining on him...

He had done his best to even use the thick fog of this city to his advantage, but being what you were, that sort of tactic was also pointless, seeing as how the apparent supernatural purpose of the fog was not exactly to conceal, no...

While it inhibited physical sight somewhat, it did nothing to hide his spiritual signature, therefore...

It had simply been a matter of time.

Of course, it was a child, so you had to hold back your physical strength a bit, but catching his arm was easy enough...

And much like a balloon, he had seemingly deflated at the contact, turning back towards you with a practiced, stoic expression; the expression of someone who was doing their best to keep their cool in a situation that is no longer favorable to them...

"...Most of the adults are in a daze all the time nowadays, what's up with you? Some kind of monster?"

Yes.

It's admirable (?) courage, but...

Also an obvious (and somewhat rude) deflection away from the problem, namely:

The stolen money, still in his other hand, the one furthest away from you as if he was sheltering it even now.

Agatha hadn't quite caught up yet -her pace was more tourist esque- but...

[Airen]

Blaise Pendragon
An Unfortunate Place ~ Outside of a Cave that Should Not Be
??? - Morning

"..."

Thankfully, it seems that Yuriko is not the type to be offended by certain compromising positions, or rather, she is the sort of girl that can be a bit more 'reasonable' when it comes to accidentally falling into those sorts of situations, using context to determine whether or not she needs to beat someone up. In this case, landing like she had was her fault, it was fine, an accident, even if perhaps the feeling of muscles under her hands was one that had stood out to her, much as something else had likely stood out to the young man...

---For both their sakes, she must let it go.

And indeed, she had intended on doing so; but then-

"..."

-the awkward way he had put her back on her feet...

How was she supposed to respond to that? It's that confusion that puts her in a similar state to Kaguya, albeit, instead of rubbing her temples in exasperation, she is simply standing there, staring blankly at you as if she's unsure about what to say...

Thankfully.

Since her default expression is that of a stoic ice queen, she is able to maintain her poker face in spite of the many "?!s" that appear in her thoughts as you go so far as to dust her clothes off, but...

In the end, she is one that defaults to reasonable responses; other than the horrific entity that was being pursued this was fine, this situation was okay, nothing weird had really been touched, so she should put any accidental touching she had done herself from her mind along with yours-!

Yes!

Focus on other things!

Things that should not be...

"I mean... I get it... It was an ugly cat... But a threat...?"

Of course it's a threat.

Why wouldn't it be a threat?

It is much like an eldritch horror, of course if such things actually exist, then perhaps Lovecraft would have been better off tying his feet to some rocks and descending into the ocean?

It's a horror alright, a violator of reality, a breaker of rules, something that should not exist and thus must be snuffed out...

Yes.

You will not be convinced, and perhaps, sensing that...

She sighs.

Yuriko sighs.

A deep, deep sigh, the sigh of an already battered babysitter that finds herself unable to simply let things lie, yes...

"Ah screw it, let's chase it then-!"

Even if it goes against her common sense, that voice inside of her head that assured her this was a terrible, terrible mistake, she seems to change her mind on her first statement shortly after making it, running into the darkness of an ominous cave with a fire all her own, and...

And...

And...

---

Blaise Pendragon
Cave Interior, Why Must We Suffer So
??? ~ Morning

---Ah.

The inside of the cave is far worse than the outside, because it assaults the sanity in an entirely different way.

It's a bizarre village.

Some sort of settlement, right inside the heart of this cave, there was even a castle in the distance like some sort of villain's lair.

"..."

It's not real.

It's not real.

It's definitely not real because it absolutely cannot be real, but losing yourself in those logic loops means taking more damage to your sanity, just focus, focus...

Directly in front of you, the first to witness the horror.

Is the kouhai who had charged ahead, and her blank stare, blank stare at that which should not be, is eventually accompanied by but a few words, words spoken with an struggling smile...

"...Ah. I see. It's the worst sort of illusion."

At least her mind had good self-defense mechanisms.

[Airen]

Amelia
Digital Sea ~ ???
??? ~ ???

“Regulated, huh. Regulated by who?”

"You guys, the Tamers! That big barrier they put over the planet with the Towers, it's designed to keep something really strong from just wandering in unannounced and unopposed... This world has a history of that sort of thing happening in my memory files, so it was a really good idea on their part!"

Of course, the Harmonizer Towers were certainly a fixture of the Modern Age; there were five in general, each of them working together to put a weaker Harmonizer-type effect over the whole planet, purpose being to weaken any magic that was used by those who aren't explicitly registered to use it. After all, day-to-day type spells didn't require very much power to use, nor did civilian-grade magi-tech, in essence, it ensured that only those who have been officially trained to use greater magics are able to do so with any real effectiveness...

Helps to curb the power of rogue Demons or Gods too.

It was one of the features the "human" side of the world held that the "Demonic Server" equivalent did not, with each of the Major Tamer Organizations being tasked with the protection and maintenance of at least one, in your case, for the Rothschild, your Tower was actually in-

...Well, probably for the best not to think about it.

Never knew who could read minds nowadays.

Still, when it comes to your second question...

“What you said earlier, about the server being hacked. What do you mean by ‘server’?”

"Well, it's just a bit of a hypothesis! But these sorts of simulations are similar in nature to your guy's Demonic Server; that place isn't quite as guarded against invasion as this side is, and the two worlds are connected, so... It's possible they summoned it over there first, and then tried to bring it here from there... Of course, that's just a theory! All the data is actually sort of confusing!"

A pause.

Yes.

A longer pause, then...

"Pretty sure it's name is BABEL though, or at least something like that... Readings are pretty different from most of the demons I've seen here-!"

[Airen]

Hyakka Onjouji
Aoyama Gakuen, Tokyo
Kayo's Room ~ Night

"Closet!"

No hesitation.

Of course, it is the classical hiding spot, but that means it is also the place that others are most likely to actually look for you, still...

"Thank you Fujimoto-Sensei! I apologize for requiring your aid once again!"

...Still showing that odd amount of respect towards the teacher, as well as a hint of regret, like she was worried she had disappointed some sort of idol of hers, a certain senpai somehow manages to whisper and yell at the same time before dragging you into the depths of the nearby sliding closet. It's a place you only get a glimpse of as it opens, a closet full of old-fashioned books, game boards, and even an anatomical skeleton...

It's a bit of an eccentric closet...

Still, with no time left to pick another place, the fall of darkness upon your eyes soon reduces the world to the quiet breathing of you and Nanaya; both of you primed, both listening, for the inevitable knock on the door, as well as the revelation of whether or not this particularly teacher would turn out to be a sell-out after all, still...

---The darkness is always a curious place.

Things that are hidden are often the things people most yearn to see, and thus, when looking out through the cracks in the door becomes boring, you turn your attention back to the closet interior, where...

Nanaya is next to you.

The anatomical skeleton is next to her, so...

The third figure, one Nanaya doesn't notice...

The new one, the one on your other side, standing about five feet or so away, standing composed -casually- in the darkness...

Who was that...?

...The Headmaster's powers didn't extend to teleporting into hiding places did they?

Did they?!

[Satehi]

Eva Ellet
??? ~ Streets
World Designation: Revolution
Noon, Foggy

"...Most of the adults are in a daze all the time nowadays, what's up with you? Some kind of monster?"

“… that’s very rude.”

There’s not much else I can say in response to that remark. I would like to say in my defense that there are definitely many more individuals more deserving of that moniker in my world, in both capability and personality… but I am unable to recognize there is some truth to his remark. In a very literal sense, I am not a human, so what he’s saying is not incorrect.

And I doubt that very many people here can do what I’ve just done, since the overall level is much lower. From that reference point, they are normal and I’m very abnormal.

That said, perhaps they are not as normal as they seem, given the first half of his statement… the fog seems rather suspicious, since its purpose isn’t concealment. It’s something that I would like to ask about, but-

“What you’re holding in your hand over there doesn’t belong to you. I would appreciate it if you returned it to its rightful owner.”

-First, my original objective. Apprehending a thief.

Although given that the boy seems to hold onto the bag even after having been caught, it seems likely it won’t be long before it really belongs to him. To be precise, in however long it takes for Agatha to catch up and have a short conversation with him- he evidently has some need for it to keep holding on in this situation, and Agatha has no real use for it… I wouldn’t be surprised if she just gave it to him.

Especially considering her imagination from earlier. It’s… kind of amusing, the way she’s viewing this situation.

Alternatively, you could say it’s concerning.

That said, it’s her decision to make. Not mine, and certainly not his either.

[Airen]

Cosmos Fairchild
LOVELESS ~ Outside
??? - Dawn isn't Coming

---Naturally, a Spirit Tamer should never be underestimated.

While the screaming, rampaging horror that is coming your way should be enough to send any human cowering in fear, unable to do anything but shake and pray that they remain unseen in the face of something they could never hope to defeat, you are a representation of a much stronger form of human; a Spirit Tamer is one that serves as a bridge between humanity and demons, they are the Knights of the Modern Age, born inside of the incomprehensible spiral of science and magic, born of contradictions, born of all of the powers humanity had held throughout their history on the planet.

---No, even more than that...

The world you know is one that has defeated this sort of mud already, it is an enemy of which they are well aware, and one that they have defeated decisively. This mud is no longer their fatal antithesis, it's a dark shadow that has been acknowledged and must now disappear within the depths of truth and light, as such things have already been safely left inside of the past.

Rather than ignite terror, it is a sight that ignites one's fighting spirit, an acceptance of a trial that had certainly returned sooner than expected, but that would be crushed again all the same, and-

-Light rains.

A single spear of golden light, trained on the head of a screaming, screeching, crawling horror; it is something that makes the act of crawling bestial, a repeated insane motion of tearing at the earth to pull itself towards you that has turned what should have been a weak crawl into something like an insane pounce, as if it simply couldn't wait to tear you to pieces to sate some sort of invisible grudge, but...

That forward motion also lacks creativity.

If it intended on simply moving towards you in a straight line, then even one of your more basic attacks would have been enough for something like this; light charges forth, a shining lance in the darkness, a lance whose piercing of the wind becomes a light whistle, a lively sound, a different sound, as the roars of a screaming berserker become silenced, silenced by a mouth that has already been removed first in the passing of light, silenced by the miasmic head that is blown mercilessly from it's shoulders as it's own charge seemingly leads it to it's doom, or...

No.

No, not quite yet.

---Filled with a natural human tenacity, the body continues to try to smash you even without the orders of it's head.

It's a possible outcome you had seen coming, one that is rectified by the desperate push of an angel that feels like all of this is a bit over her head right now, but one that serves to get you out of the way of everything but the shock-wave, the air released by it's attack still enough to send you back towards the wall, although this time, the two of you weather the invisible blow a bit better, stopping just short of the wall, and...

Just in time to see your flailing opponent fall, fall into the mud that used to be it's comrades; comrades that have been torn apart in a barrage of azure lights... It is a different light, the blue light inherent to humanity rather than the gold of the creator, but one that lays waste to it's opposition all the same...

Yes.

Even up until the end, that berserker continues to try to strike at you... Flailing even as it loses strength in it's limbs, as it's necessity to follow the rules of it's form dictate that it should fall now that it's head has been blown off, it continues to swing at empty air silently, somehow more horrifically, as it's body pitches into the darkness and disappears...

Yes.

Disappears.

There is no big crash, it is like it simply slipped into the mud naturally, without a struggle, no fuss at all...

Not even a single ripple.

Up above, more mud falls down; this the result of Alyx's own defeat of her opponent. A bullet fired straight through it's head, the much more agile magnum form of her COMP spinning once in her hand as she replaces it in it's usual holster on her leg; like the giant, the female wraith makes no sound, for her head no longer exists for her to scream with, and the body that had once been humanoid has simply become muck...

Muck that falls, as gravity dictates it must.

Mud that hits the ground and...

Continues to move?

Towards the black ocean, as if drawn to it...

Yes.

Just like the giant, it is drawn back towards that black ocean, and...

---Before anyone can say anything, before victory cries can be released, before questions can be asked, even before breaths can be taken...

The world shakes.

The whole world shakes, and this may not be exaggeration; the sound of sirens grows louder as once silently 'swaying' mud begins to bubble and churn, as if the 'deaths' of two of the ones it had sent out had proven to be the trigger for something much worse...

And of course, perhaps that is the case.

If that is the "mud of a Soul Sea," then it may as well be a single spiritual entity; it might be a monster that spits pieces of itself out to attack the land, but such forms are malleable, crafted to suit a purpose, a creation made out of mud that, once returned to mud, is not difficult to reshape into something more useful...

In other words...

---Everything outside was one enemy.

All of it, a collective consciousness, but-

"Time to go-!"

-before that train of thought has the time to really go anywhere, Alyx has already appeared next to you in a clear usage of Flash Truth, one hand grabbing your wrist and pulling you and Sariel over her shoulders so you were looking behind her, and...

Taking off for the upper floors, not by using the stairs, but simply by leaping up and bouncing off of the various balconies, a series of blinding wall jumps leading into a dash down a pitch black hallway that waits for no consent.

Ordinarily, this would be a no go.

First of all, touching you without your permission was an offense all it's own, but putting you over her shoulder like you were a kid was grounds to start an actual fight, but right now...

---These movements are purposeful, as if she had seen something and had been determined to get away from it.

"You're the gun right now, got it!"

And she had, certainly she had...

The wind roaring in your ears becomes joined by the sounds of rain and the splitting of thunder before you manage to see it yourself; it's just after Alyx slams open the door of the rooftop with superhuman grace, not stopping for even an instant as she heads away, far away from the area that you had come from that you see it for yourself...

A much bigger monster.

One large enough to pick up the portion of the mall you had just been in...

And crush the whole thing in it's hands.

It does so in full view, massive eyes staring at you as you are whisked away by your sister on practiced, graceful legs, the fastest between you and here and thus the one that must run, must leap from shattered building to shattered building as...


"▂▂▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅▅▅▅▅!"


It crawls after at the pace of a nightmare, an attack dog made by the world itself, one whose every step shakes the foundation of the entire area as it stretches out a hand, stretching, as if to grasp that which is just out of it's reach-!

Alyx's Current AGI - A (Under the effects of Heat Riser)
Giant's Current AGI - B

[hero]

Amamiya Sho
Aoyama Gakuen - Front Hall
??? - Noon


As a dropout, being outclassed has always been a part of my daily life. Granted, no matter who you are, there will always be someone stronger than you, just as there will surely be someone more intelligent and someone more attractive. But for me, being eclipsed by someone else is the default outcome wherever I go. It's a harsh reality, but nothing can be done about it and I've gotten accustomed to the bitter taste of defeat. So, why... Why is today different?! Why do I feel so utterly devastated after hearing the vice-principal's rebuttal...? It's like I've been a naive puppet hung on the strings she manipulates this whole time, as if this whole scenario and outcome -as ridiculous as the thought is- has been orchestrated by her from the very start...! Having been trampled over by a force that goes beyond human comprehension, there is only one way a sane man can react.

"AHHH-! WHAT THE HELL...!" Feeling all energy leaving my legs, I crumble to the floor once more, questioning my faith. However, in losing I am a veteran, and so I can make a quick attempt to recover. "YOU MADE UP ALL THAT CRAP ON THE SPOT, DIDN'T YOU-?!"

But all my finger points at is empty air.

Lianne Cross is gone, alongside the good majority of the student base. Or rather, they are still pretty much within my field of vision, but they are all ignoring me, lured by the promise of a free meal. I can already see the smug look on her face even as she's facing in an opposite direction.

"Ah... Kioka... Just... Kill me... Finish me off..."

As I sink deeper into an ocean of delusions, both my COMP AI and my Familiar stare at me in both alarm and confusion.

How low have the Tamers at this school fallen. Who'd sell their pride for a good bite? Certainly, I wouldn't. Not when that offer comes from the devil herself!

"... You bastard."

But it is Namasaki Shuichi the one to open my eyes to the truth, which has been standing right before my eyes this whole time. This has been a plot devised not by one, but by two of them. And the one who has been Lianne Cross' accomplice is now casually mocking me as he makes his departure.

"You planned this, didn't you...?!"

By this point, his words do not reach my ears. All that I know is that my heart seeks vengeance.

"I've changed my mind... I won't die... I'll kill you instead-!"

My thirst of revenge is the fuel that allows me to stand and chase after my sworn enemy-!

[Spinach]

Hyakka Onjouji
Aoyama Gakuen, Tokyo
Kayo's Room ~ Night

Like a gust of wind, Hyakka was pulled into the closet. Dragged off in silence, offering no resistance, the tiny troublemaker disappeared into the darkness. The thanks she wished to give the one that her senpai addressed with such respect never escaped her lips, as she was cut off by a much cooler voice.

“Our gratitude.”

With those words, the world returned to darkness. For a moment, Hyakka resolved herself to wait in silence. Waiting patiently, anxiously, for it to show up. At some point the quiet made her aware of her own breathing, how loud it was, and she began to hold her breath. It was then that she noticed how the thumping of her beating heart was so loud, surely it could be heard from even the garden, where the strange Magus’ fluffy ears no doubt perked up and honed in on the sound.

Don’t you think of asking me to stop your heartbeat for you. That cold voice washed away those thoughts in its frigid tone. Hold your breath any longer and you’re going to end up gasping for air and blowing our cover, Hana.

Eyes popping open at that, the white-haired girl finally allowed her lungs to perform their vital job.

I think this is the last time I’m letting you ‘hang out’ with this Akane girl.

When a pair of lips opened up to protest, a harsh shhhh silenced her.

Puckering her lips in a pout, Hyakka took her attention away from the classroom beyond the door, finally began to glance about. The girl nearly leapt out of her shoes at the sight of the skeleton beside her classmate, but held it together. Two hands slapped over her mouth, keeping a shriek from escaping.

That wasn’t fair… I'm proud of you for keeping it in. Even I was shocked.

Hyakka nodded in agreement. Wiping a frozen drop of sweat from her brow, the girl feigned a sigh of relief. Recomposing herself, she turned around.

…!

“…!”

All the color drained from the small girl’s face. Her complexion grew as pale white as her hair, and a quivering finger rose up slowly, pointing at the other one in the closet.

“G-…” Teeth chattered together. The girl took a step backward, her head bumping into her older classmate. “G-g-gho…”

Hana, keep it together!

“Ghost…!”

Mimicking a technique of her senpai, the girl squeaked out a shriek at the level of a whisper.

Eyes rolling into the back of her head, the girl fell completely into her older classmate as all strength left her body.

"Oh no. She... really fainted, here and now, in the worst possible situation..."

[palad1n]

Cosmos Fairchild
LOVELESS ~ Outside
??? - Dawn isn't Coming

Cosmos was feeling pretty proud of herself.

How could she not? Her spell aimed true, taking the giants head off, and her foresight allowed Sariel to tackle her away from the rampaging headless giant before it fell - or returned? - to the mud. In other words, everything is going according to plan, and it is the kind of achievement that she would proudly recount to her mother during one of their tea times, ending with an 'I did a great job, didn't I?' as she wait for her mother's praise.

Of course, such fantasy were short-lived the moment Alyx appeared in a burst of flash truth, and slung both herself and Sariel over her shoulders like a sack of potatoes, and took of at blinding speed.

Cosmos' first reaction was to shout "what are you doing?!" at the white-haired girl, which was only prevented because of the suddenness of the action and the fact that she didn't want to bite her tongue. After all, she had never been that big into physical contacts with others - the exception being her mother and Saria, whose series of sudden, random hugs made it kinda normal at this point - so the fact that her annoying sister is the one doing this raised her usual 'Alyx is picking a fight' alarm. Still, a few seconds of being forced to stay silent did wonders as Cosmos was quickly reminded of their current situation, so there must be a good reason Alyx is doing this at all--

A hypothesis that is quickly proven the moment they stepped out of the rooftop and her eyes landed on the creature Alyx is running away from.

It was a giant, one which dwarfed the one she just finished off not a minute ago by a wide margin if it could be seen all the way from up here, amidst a terrible downpour. As if to further prove a point on just how big it is, the giant picked up a large portion of LOVELESS and easily crushed it in its hands, as easy as someone grabbing a handful of popcorn and crushing them in their hands! It was such a feat that Cosmos couldn't help but stare!

"You're the gun now, got it!"

Thankfully Alyx's shout brought her back to the real world, and the reality that she's basically in a chase scene with Alyx as her vehicle in the middle of the rain against a giant came crashing down. Of course, the fact that she is the gun is only natural; Cosmos has always been a long-range bombardment type tamer, so the role of being the gun in this scenario would suit her just fine. No, the problem that is plaguing her mind right now is a different one.

Namely...

'Aaah, why didn't I equip Endless Nova in this situation?!'

The feeling of regret!

Indeed, the reason why she managed to get herself to stare at the giant, lost in thought just a few moments ago, was not because of awe or fear; no, it was caused by a sinking feeling in her stomach that she has made a terrible mistake!

Every tamer has a trump card, mostly in the form of a B-rank custom spell, and Cosmos Fairchild is no exception to this rule. In many ways, Endless Nova is her pride and joy - her biggest accomplishment aside from the series of custom-spells she made in accordance to her COMP's special ability - a spell that she trusted enough to be her ace in the hole, her get-out-of-jail free card, the one to fall back on in a worst-case scenario.

However! The problem of being a rather sheltered tamer is that the opportunity to use a trump card is rare because most of the time it would be overkill, not to mention the possible collateral damage that could result from its usage; in fact, she had never used Endless Nova in her career, not even once, and over time she had grown to hope to never use it! As such, rather than filling a spell slot with a spell that isn't likely to be used, Cosmos had grown accustomed to not equipping Endless Nova as her standard configuration! She didn't even think about equipping it back when the fight started, even though in retrospect this is the perfect area and situation to have a trump card to fall back on!

'Oh no no no, stupid Cosmos! Why did you equip Plasmic Fire against these kind of enemies that doesn't seem to be weak to fire instead of Endless Nova in the first place? The moment you need a trump card, you can't even use it! Aaaaaaaaaah, how stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! This mistake might actually cost us our lives too-'

'If you did nothing, then it really would.'

Illia's curt voice, as usual, managed to stop her paranoia from taking her mind further away from the current problem.

'While not having Endless Nova is indeed a disadvantage, it is one that could still be covered. Did we not design our combat practically around this kind of situation in the first place? Flexibility is among your strength as a spirit tamer, Cosmos. Even when your strongest trump card is not with you, you still have other ones to use, no?'

Cosmos blinked, and nodded silently.

Indeed, while Endless Nova can be considered to be her [Joker], her ultimate trump card, Cosmos Fairchild still has a series of spells that could be considered as her [Aces]. As such, the situation she found herself in might just still be salvageable. Turning the gears in her mind on what she should do based on current conditions, Cosmos arrived at a conclusion.

"Sariel."

"Uuu... To think I'm so much slower than Alyx even when flying so I have to be carried around too, I really am a failure of a guardian angel... In the first place, angels are supposed to fly on their own, not being carried around by a human, doesn't this mean I'm being protected instead of the one doing the protecting? Hauuu, please have mercy on me Father..."

Cosmos blinked a few times as she watched her guardian angel mumbling to herself, seemingly depressed, before letting out a sigh with a small smile; the two of them really were alike, in a way, as this is far from the first time it happened. Still, now is not the time to be depressed; now is the time to act. As such, this time Cosmos raised her voice so she could be heard among the downpour and thunder.

"Sariel!"

"Hyaa-?!" The angel squealed in surprise before looking at her with tears in her eyes. "C-Cosmos? Are you angry at me after all? I'm sorry, I should have done a better job-"

"I'm not angry with you, Sariel." She denied with a small smile, even as Illia hummed in her hand and casted a spell on itself, guaranteeing that the next spell cast will bear its effects. "But I do have a job for you. Care to try blinding the humongous giant over there with Brilliance?"

"--Ah. Of course!" The blonde vigorously nodded after blinking her tears away. "You can count on me!"

Cosmos couldn't help but felt a pang of guilt as she watched Sariel tapped Alyx's shoulder, before a moment later she had flown away at the giant with no hesitation; always eager to do her best, even when she might have been sent to her doom. Of course, angels will return to the demonic server even when they're dead, making them practically immortal, but Cosmos had made a resolve to never let Sariel die; the moment she think the angel is in danger, she will recall her to her COMP immediately.

Having made her resolve and making a short prayer for Sariel's safety, Cosmos looked at the giant and its approaching hand. Ringing the bell on her staff after some difficulty, she took aim, and once again cast her signature spell - though this time, there is only a single target.

"Aster!"

If this works, then she could try to finish it off the moment Illia's heat has reset to zero!

Turn Action

COMP Heat: 10/10
Bell Charge Used: 1
Bell Charge: 2

Spells Used:
Debilitate (For Aster)
Aster

Sariel:
Flying closer to use Brilliance!

Wise Up!

-Debilitate-
Rank: C
Enchantment-type spell that is added onto other phenomena or one’s weapon; if the next strike with said enchanted item or spell is successful, reduce each of the opponent’s stats by one rank for two turns.

Plasmic Fire
Rank: ?
Element: Fire
Cosmos' second custom spell. Further details unknown...

Endless Nova
Rank: B
Element: ?
Cosmos' strongest spell, which she hoped to never use in normal circumstances; ironically, the current situation is practically the perfect time and area to use it. Further details unknown...

[Airen]

Hyakka Onjouji
Aoyama Gakuen, Tokyo
Kayo's Room ~ Night

A valiant effort.

To those who are somewhat unused to the Tamer life, the appearance of this sort of atmosphere, these sorts of phenomena, may prove to be overwhelming... Yes, being of the innocent sort, and forced into a stressful situation that seems to keep throwing twist after twist at you, the appearance of a shadow that no one else seems to be able to see proves to be too much, the straw that breaks the camel's back, and thus...

And thus...

And thus...

Eyes roll into the back of your head, as you give up on consciousness at the worst possible time. It's a motion that may have ended badly, were it not for the fact that your falling arc lands you right on the shoulders of Akane; thankfully, being a Tamer herself, the automatic response of her body towards the falling body of another is to catch it gently, gently enough that no sound is made, and no head makes contact with the hard tiles of the school floor.

It's not something that would really hurt a Tamer of course, but still...

It's the thought that matters.

And perhaps the silence.

Yes, the silence.

Silence that is broken by the sound of something hitting the floor with a thud, not rolling, not bouncing, simply falling to a complete stop with a light thud... It comes from the direction Hyakka had been looking before falling, the direction of her supposed 'ghost,' and it's identity as a falling item is...

---A fake pair of glasses and a mustache mask.

"...What?"

It's an item that seems horribly out of place, the sort of thing that people wear as a bad joke, something that has only gotten a laugh from the most bizarre, and was consequently a popular item with a certain teacher in the past...

There is no person in the closet.

No 'ghost' that can be seen, but...

A headmaster draws closer, for he is still out in the halls; a certain ghost in the gardens laughs to herself and disappears, for she will not be found again tonight, and a senpai grows silent, along with two A.I as they await the moment of truth...

But for Hyakka, it will pass without her knowledge; when she awakes, it will already be over.

A successful shielding by an allied teacher.

Instead, she...

---

Hyakka Onjouji
???

Dreams.

Dreams are strange things, especially in the Magic Age.

Considering everyone's sixth sense has awakened, the knowledge that can be gleaned from dreams has become something far more tangible than it used to be; dreams can be both meaningful and meaningless, sometimes one's soul may glean some strange truth from a distant sea, sometimes you may wander into the dreams of another, sometimes you may simply dream, sometimes you may see the silhouettes of distant monsters or exploding stars, and at other times...

Well...

Something like this... Although this is sort of new.

You're sitting in a garden, it's a crystalline garden, gradient; while it looks organic at a glance everything is made of this crystal, or perhaps, everything has simply been coated in that crystal?

It's hard to tell, nevertheless...

"Are you alright, Hyakka?"

...It is not what really draws your attention, no...

There is a man across from you, sitting at a table made of crystal...

Of course, you cannot see his features; his appearance is like looking directly into the heart of the sun or some other star, it is radiant, impossibly radiant, so much so that looking at him directly should render one blind, but...

This light is fine, while you cannot look into it to discern the features of the one inside of it, it feels familiar, almost nostalgic... Although you cannot place why...

"You seem to be rather panicked..."

It's a stranger after all, but...

One that triggers no sense of danger in you.

No.

If anything...

His presence washes away whatever sense of fear and anxiety you may have once held...

[Airen]

Amamiya Sho
Aoyama Gakuen - Front Hall
??? - Noon

"I've changed my mind... I won't die... I'll kill you instead-!"

"It's good to have dreams I suppose, but do try to be realistic with them."

This guy.

Neither confirming nor denying anything, the only thing he sees fit to do in response to your declaration is shoot it down immediately in that infuriatingly 'cool' manner of his; he has to be doing it on purpose, acting that flippant is not something that one does naturally, and throwing a mocking half-smile as he goes, hand raised as if to say "farewell," or perhaps "keep up with me," well...

You chase after him.

In the end, even if today felt more stressful than most days...

It's still just a normal day at the Academy.

It's an Academy that doesn't have normal days, thus, that abnormality is, in and of itself, something completely normal...

Full of contradictions...

Perhaps that's just how a Tamer's life is at times...

Students laugh, and a new teacher leads them on.

They'll forget about it of course, seeing a fragment of something unexpected from you; but that doesn't mean it didn't happen, or that it didn't leave an impact... Of course, other things left an impact of their own as well, and for those, you may be given a hard time about it for awhile, but...

---It wasn't a bad exercise.

As absurd as it was... And even with that twist of an ending... Yes... Perhaps...

It was something worth doing after all...

The day moves on, and time passes as it always does; you never catch up to Shuichi but...

You will eventually.

You know it.

That's Amamiya Sho's delusion, or perhaps...

That belief is his own ace in the hole...

--}i{--

Amamiya Sho
Aoyama Gakuen - Gymnasium
??? - Morning

---Due to a combination of lingering debts from your youth, as well as your own pride, your monetary situation was a bit of a struggle to keep stable. The money you got from your work as a Tamer simply wasn't enough, considering you stayed at your own place rather than on base... It was the sort of thing that doesn't really help one climb out of their financial hell, you make enough to stay afloat and no more, to fix that...

You were also the sort that did odd jobs around the city.

There was a bulletin board in the Common Room of the base for such things, but being as annoyingly perfect as ever, this week's requests had mostly been taken -and completed- by Shuichi within a few hours of them going up... Or at least, he had been doing that earlier in the week, now it seems some other problem has come up that's taking most of his attention, so you had managed to snag a few requests for yourself, and had...

Been shot down by most of them, and...

Had shot down two yourself, the two given out by your friends of what you -correctly or incorrectly- had categorized as 'pity.'

...Well, in the case of Nadia's request it may have been out of a desire of self-preservation, but Akiko...

Akiko was more innocent, in her case, it was definitly out of a sense of pity for your situation, thus...

---You couldn't do it.

You just couldn't.

It was a matter of pride-!

But there was one that had stuck out at the end, one that hadn't disappeared into the black hole that was Shuichi's heroism, or the pity of friends, it was a request from someone who certainly wouldn't pity you, yes...

It was a request...

From Ibaraki...

For a student to deliver a package somewhere in the local area; you didn't know the specifics quite yet, but the task itself seemed doable...

Still...

Interacting with this demon teacher... There's a bit of hesitation, after all, while you have a history...

---She's still a demon, in other words.

Even if she felt bad about that thing that had happened that one time... She would also see it as a weakness that you needed to cover, and thus one she would test randomly, in other words...

---Turning the doorknob to her classroom, the sudden roar that comes from inside, one filled to the brim with fighting spirit, and accompanied by a full force (?) kick...

"RIDER KICK!"

Is one that's not entirely unexpected...!

In fact-!

You had definitely known this was coming-!