Moments after the Crusader would enter the city of Prontera, a certain teal-haired Kafra came running out into the fields…
Ray, Lee, Raien, & Thiji: Nora!
Nora: Hey, boys! How ya' doin?! The break treatin' you guys good?
Thiji: Somewhat. We just had a run-in with someone from Holy Saviors.
Nora: Really? Well, how interestin'!
Lee: Is there something you wanted to tell us?
Nora: Yeah, actually! I know how you guys were a little tuckered out from the last fight in the Emperium Jungle, right? Well, I just found a golden opportunity for y'all to restock on supplies!
Raien: Nice!
Thiji: Where? We could definitely use more potions, among other things.
Nora: I was talkin' with my fellow colleagues earlier about the Emperium Frontier, and we touched on the subject of Geffen, the City of Magic!
Ray: Of course…! Geffen!
Raien: Geffen?
Thiji: Mind telling us a little about it?
Nora: Sure! This should be a refresher for Ray and Lee!
The Kafra clears her throat for a moment and takes out a map from one of her back pockets, pointing at a small city shaped in the form of a circle.
Nora: Located in the westernmost region of the Rune-Midgarts kingdom, Geffen is where the denizens of the kingdom go to become Magicians at the famous Magic Academy!
Thiji: Riveting.
Nora: It was also once the ancient capital of the Elven Kingdom of Alfheim! There is also rumors that the city was once built by great Wizards of ages past since they believed in magic!
Raien: Hm… Elua & Heal-Do are Elves…
Lee: Think they might have any information about Alfheim?
Thiji: Not unless you want to get torn to pieces in the process of asking.
Nora: There is a huge tower at the center of the city where the Wizard Magic Academy is held; the actual Magician's guild is located on the outskirts of the city itself. Also, it is where the Blacksmith's Guild is located, too! Because of this, they are capable of forging elemental weaponry!
Ray: Of course. And then there's the Orc Village and Goblin Village to the South, where Lee and I like to train sometimes.
Nora: Exactly! West of there is the Kordt Forest – where Kobolds are its natural inhabitants!
Thiji: Any more information for us?
Nora: Yes, actually. Every three years in Geffen, the Magic Festival is held for a totally of fifteen days! Here, Magicians turn their research into spellwork!
Thiji: So it's a showcase of sorts…
Nora: There's also the Tournament of Magic where spellcasters of all classes face off against one another using only magic!
Ray: Sounds like something right up your alley, Thiji!
Nora: Though the Magic Festival won't happen again until about another year or so, so that leaves plenty of time for you to practice!
Thiji: I see. Thank you, Madam Shuji.
Nora: No problem! If you're all are prepared, I'll take you guys there in a heartbeat!
Raien: All right… here's a voucher.
Nora graciously accepts the free teleportation ticket from the Ninja and begins using her special magic to whisk them away to the City of Magic.
About several minutes of transporting through the aether, the four would find themselves at the city square, where they find numerous people cavorting with each other. Witnessing the splendor of this new area, Thiji and Raien noticed the violet cobblestones that made up the city's streets, and the towering structure located at the heart of the City of Magic which housed the Magic Academy…
"Wow… This entire city is built like a donut!" Raien exclaimed. "Think there are any pretty ladies here?"
He then found his brother, the Wizard, being surrounded by a small legion of neophyte Magicians of the female variety. "Hey! How are you getting the girls this time?!"
"I'm not," defended Thiji. "They are just fans."
"Well, send some of your fans over here!" Raien demanded. "Nora completely left out the fact that this place had sexy-looking female Mages… that wear nothing… but a bra and a skirt…"
The Wizard politely asked his adoring public where they would be able to find some magical supplies. One of them points to the Northwest, where the Magician's Guild is located. He thanks them kindly and turns to his friends.
"My newfound public says that we can acquire some items by the Magician's Guild to the Northwest of here," he told them.
"I could have told you that!" Ray said, leading the way. "All right, then. Let's get going!"
As they left, Thiji looked back and saw the posse of female Magicians – some of them swooning; others pouting – at their muse. This fascinated the Wizard as he gave them a friendly wave farewell to acknowledge them.
"Whatever. Female Ninjas are sexier anyway," spoke Raien in a jealous tone. Coincidentally, some Kunoichi began walking by the Lightning Ninja, giggling at him as they went by, which made his head turn a complete one-hundred eighty degrees and would begin walking towards them. "And there go some right now!"
"Wait, Raien!" Lee called out. "Oh, fine, then. We'll explore the city without him."
White Trinity, however, was not the only ones present in the City of Magic… To the East, a certain Blacksmith & Knight duo were sitting around in the Blacksmith's Guild…
Lupi: (Yawns) I can't keep waiting like this… I wish the next place would show itself already... I'm keeling over from boredom!
Aege, tempering her and her sisters' weapons: There really is no hope for you, is there…? You are always impatient, and you're the first one to go off.
Lupi: Easy for you to say, little sister… I want my redemption on those Trinities!
The Blacksmith pauses what she was doing for a moment and snickers.
Lupi: Something funny?
Aege: For a moment you sounded like those Holy Saviors with "redemption" and all!
Lupi, chuckling: I did for a second, didn't I?
Aege: By the way, have you seen Elua today? I didn't find her in her room this morning.
Lupi: She went to fetch Heal-Do for us.
Aege: I see… Well, it –
Before Aege said another word, she notices Raien of White Trinity walking by with a group of blushing female Ninja around him and takes cover behind the forge.
Lupi: What is wrong – (Muffled, angry shouting)
Aege drags Lupi into the shadows with her until Raien passes by. He was busy amazing his entourage with his many exploits in the Emperium Frontier to realize the two sisters were even around. Lupi was still kicking and shouting, trying to get Aege off of her.
Aege: Phew… sorry about that, Lupi. I didn't want us being seen.
Lupi, with a smile on her face: Oh, that's not a problem at all, Aege. Just be sure to warn me next time you do something like that or I'll harm you bodily.
Aege: (Frightened tone) O-Okay… I'll be sure to remember…
At the Prontera Sanctuary, Youmei had finally reunited with her sisters, though they would find their new leader with reddened cheeks…
Tsubaki: What's the matter with you, Youmei?
Momiji: Why are you blushing, Sister?
The Crusader did not say a word and jostled the two Acolytes out of the way.
Youmei, angrily: I am going to go change now… excuse me.
Tsubaki, thinking: "Strange for Youmei to appear before us in such a manner… Clearly White Trinity is to be responsible for this. How troublesome indeed… I have just the idea to remedy this!
As Botan & Momiji struggled to get back on their feet, and Youmei getting out of her good clothes and into her battle attire, the four went about their business for a time serving the people, healing those in need, and giving thanks to Odin for their good health and well-being.
Later in the afternoon – about an hour after Youmei's arrival – Tsubaki had called the four of them back into one of the confession chambers to discuss an important matter…
Youmei: We are here as you requested, Tsubaki. What do you wish to speak about?
Tsubaki: I have been thinking for some time now about our current situation in the Emperium Frontier.
Botan: Really? What is it, Lady Tsubaki?
Momiji: It's important, right?
Tsubaki: It most certainly is, my dears. Look around you. What do you see?
The Crusader and the Acolyte twins take a moment to scan their surroundings.
Botan: A confession chamber?
Tsubaki: Think bigger…
Momiji: A… place of peace?
Tsubaki: Bigger still…
Youmei: You silly Acolytes. She clearly means the Capital City of Prontera.
Tsubaki: Correct as always, Youmei. But more importantly, what is Prontera to us, the Holy Saviors?
Botan & Momiji: Our home!
Tsubaki: You catch on fast. This is indeed our home. In light of this, you are all aware of the building located within Mt. Mjolnir that appeared when this all began, right?
The others would nod in unison, still unsure of what the Priestess in black was getting at.
Tsubaki: Then why, pray tell, is it under the stewardship of White Trinity?
Botan: That's easy! Um… because they were here first, right?
Tsubaki: Normally, you'd be correct, but despite not having encountered them since the Emperium Frontier's inception, it should, by rights, belong to us.
Youmei: But Tsubaki, you forget: we have encountered them. We were one of the "lesser guilds" struck down by the Battle Vixens' fury.
She had Tsubaki there. The massacre at Mount Mjolnir completely slipped past her. But she shook her head at the thought.
Youmei: But just what are you suggesting, Priestess?
Tsubaki: Simple: what if we were to demoralize White Trinity while at the same time benefitting ourselves?
Momiji: You mean like hurting them and helping us?
Tsubaki: Exactly that, Momiji.
Youmei: Your words are finally beginning to sound interesting, Tsubaki. I am listening.
Botan: I think I know where this is going…
Tsubaki: We take back the streets of Prontera by usurping the Emperium Frontier from the hands of White Trinity!
Youmei: Yes… you are right about that. Plus, there should be an Emperium Stone there lying dormant, allowing us to seize it.
Tsubaki: The Holy Saviors will be empty-handed no longer! Let us take over the Fortress for our own use!
Botan & Momiji: Yeah! For the Saviors! In Odin's name!
In youthful vigor, the twins begin storming out of the Sanctuary and toward the Northern gate of Prontera, leaving Tsubaki and Youmei behind for a moment.
"By the way, Youmei," Tsubaki started. "Why were you so red in the face earlier?"
"That is none of your business, Tsubaki. Let us be off," the Crusader icily replied before elegantly striding out of the hallowed halls of the monastery.
"My dear Thiji, you are not the only one capable of devising strategies… Now, you have left yourself wide open, and shall pay dearly for it!" she thought, giving a wicked chuckle before following Youmei out of the Sanctuary.