The denouement of the first season has begun. The events of these past 25 chapters have taken place over the course of approximately 5 months. The date is September 13th, 2020. The Mage's Exam will take from Friday, October 9th to Monday, October 12th. Mitsuya, Keiko, Julianna and Casanova have been assigned to take the test at the Amsterdam headquarters. This means that everyone has approximately 3 weeks to completely hone their current abilities. In this final episode, we will explore two different groups as they prepare for the trials and battle which is almost certain to come.
The current time is 8 A.M, and the current location is a facility located in secure waters west of Denmark. In an enormous room resembling a throne room, there are three golden embroidered thrones seated upon seven stairs. Below these stairs, approximately 75 people kneel. They have on black robes, and the hoods cover their faces. On the thrones, 3 familiar members of the Cerberus Corps are shown. On the left, there is the blonde one. We recognize her as number 4, Carmen. On the right side, there's the one who's reading the Count of Monte Cristo, with newly repaired glasses. We recognize him as number 5, Eliot. And in the center, we have the white haired one, capable of taking powers away from others, with her beautiful gray eyes. We recognize her as Angel. Carmen peers over Angel to Eliot.
" The wounds on your face still haven't fully recovered, I see. Mitsuya sure did give you a beating." she says with a smirk. Eliot brushes it aside.
" Shut up. If you were the one who fought him, you wouldn't be smiling either. That boy was possessed or something. Are you sure you didn't do anything to him?"
" I mean, I'm almost certain that he's not the one that I put that spirit into. I don't remember faces very well. But whatever took control of him must have had a phenomenal amount of magical energy to take you down that bad."
" Oh, be quiet. You wouldn't have lasted nearly as long as I did."
" Actually I would have. Being a witch gives you certain powers and more potential than regular mages could ever ask for. You often forget that the number 4 is higher than the number 5. Even though I know that you weren't at your full power, you still could have done more than that. That performance was just pitiful to watch, no matter how exciting it was. By the way, how much power were you at?"
Eliot hesitates in his answer. " 65%"
" Stop lying. I know you're weaker than that."
" Fine, it was 80%. But just because I'm not as powerful as you doesn't mean that I can't do things much better. I'm much more rational than you, after all."
" Just because you're more rational than me doesn't mean that I can't treat you like a baby. You are my little brother, after all." She reaches across Angel and rubs his cheek.
" I wish you would stop calling me that. We aren't even related, and you're only 8 months older than me. Plus, you aren't even four inches taller than me."
" You know how it is. I'm the older sister, you're the younger brother, Angel is the youngest sister and Dacre is the eldest brother."
" Well first off, I wouldn't consider Dacre anything close to that, second, I don't like you and neither does Angel."
" Angel is this true? Why have you never told me anything about this ?" Carmen says, exaggerating to Angel.
" He's just playing around Carmen, don't believe him." Angel says in a shallow tone.
" What's wrong with you today?" Carmen asks inquisitively. Angel is hesitant in her response.
" I don't know. I just feel kind of guilty, about something. My heart is damaged. Like I'm homesick or I just betrayed someone."
" That means that she's thinking of Mitsuya." Eliot says, turning up his nose.
" Shut up, Eliot. At least I don't think that's how it is." Angel scoffs at him.
" That probably means that it is. Almost a 90% probability." Carmen says to her. But Angel is still focusing on the book in Eliot's hand.
" How far are you?" she says to him. He wasn't paying attention, but he answered quickly.
" Edmond just learned that his poor old dad died from starvation and that Mercedes married Fernand after he was apparently executed. He just met with Calderousse, and it seems like he's going to finally go on his little revenge spree. The story is getting interesting. It's been a good read. Thanks for lending it to me."
" It was the least that I could do while you recovered. I knew you hadn't read that one yet."
" Where did you get this copy? It still looks brand new." Eliot asks.
" From an old friend at the Orphanage. He gave it to me as a birthday present."
" I wonder who that old friend could have been." Carmen says. Angel sighs out of sorrow. " Do we really have to do this ?"
" It's necessary. In order to quell any animosity against the government and to prevent any risks of future uprising on all three ends, this has to be done. We have authorization except to start and end whatever happens in this room, and we aren't going to go against it. Do you understand ?" Eliot says as he straightens his glasses. " It was going to happen anyways."
" I understand that, but there's no point in doing it like this. Can't we just do it more peacefully without causing any fighting? You know how much I depose doing stuff like this."
" Oh Angel, you're in your mood swing stage again. One moment you don't hesitate in firing a round of bullets into a man who's spirit has been broken and the next moment you're saying that you detest violence. You may be a nice and hopeful person, but you can be just as cruel as the rest of us when you get agitated." Carmen says.
" I would much rather prefer to have the other you around than this one." He stands up. " If you're still having doubts, quell them soon. There's no possible way that you can escape from here. You're stuck. Now, it's time for us to begin. I'll start." Eliot projects his voice to the people of the room. He unfolds a piece of paper that he had used as a bookmark. " Now, we begin the ceremony. Members of the internationally authorized Magus Experimental Operation, you may now reveal yourselves." The people take off their hoods. " Angel, you next."
She hesitantly stands up and continues where he left off.
" It has come to the attention of the United Nations, the Catholic Church, and the highest ranking members of the Magus Experimental Operation that the lower ranks do not meet the exceptional standards desired for the cleansing of the Magus Race. Nor do they possess abilities of high enough quality to solve and expel any supernatural entities that have come to this world not produced the mages. It can also be said that these artificial members lack the necessary skill to defend our research and protect themselves. Two members of this group abandoned their cause and sided with the mages, which was the direct result of the fire which took the life of head researcher Shikami Nara, and over 50 other personnel and scientists. In addition to this, many of you have deserted us."
She sits down, while Carmen speaks.
We have reason to believe that there are some within this league conspiring with the magus. Therefore, the members of the European and North American Conclaves have instituted Article Seven of the Magus Experimentation Charter. You have been called here today, to the Tower of Lyra. It is essential to the matter that we possess enough strength to successfully counter the operations of the mages, as well as a terrorist organization who might be conspiring with them. There has also been evidence to support the fact that the traits of mage craft have become more dominant instead of recessive traits. The number of artificial magic users can not continue to grow. The higher ups fear that rebellion will become inevitable among our ranks. For that reason, we now have the authority to choose one member out of the European and American Branches to join the ranks of the Cerberus Corps. The program is effectively disbanded and the rest of you will summarily be put to death.``
There is outrage in the crowd. They all began shouting at the three of them.
" HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?"
" WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL ?"
" WE DIDN'T CHOOSE TO DO THIS ?"
" WE WEREN'T BORN LIKE THEM! YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEAR US."
" YOU DAMN WRETCHED FOOLS. AT LEAST LET ME GO SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN."
" IF YOU'RE SCARED OF US, THEN HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO BEAT THE MAGE RACE?"
Eliot stands back up and raises his sword. His arm still hasn't recovered from the battle with Mitsuya.
" You may not have made the option to be a part of this, but when you did become a part of it, it became your solemn duty to protect the citizens of this world against all otherworldly threats. It really wasn't your choice to begin with, so now you must live with the consequences."
" WHY ARE YOU SAYING IT LIKE THAT ? YOU'RE JUST LIKE US."
" Actually, no, I'm not at all. See, I have the ability to sever my ties when they prove to be futile or detrimental to my performance and growth. This is something which all of you are incapable of. You neither have the potential to grow your abilities nor the alternative energy needed to change them. I am stronger than all of you both mentally and physically. You are weak, and this is no place for weak people. We are God's agents on this Earth, and we protect it. You have not done a good job of doing that."
There is silence in the room as everyone's face is shown with horror and despair on it. Some of them fall to the ground, saying their final prayers. Some cry in the arms of others. Some scramble and curse at them to open the door. But there's one who still keeps his hood on. He steps to the center of the floor and projects his voice.
" WE CANNOT LIVE UNDER THIS CONSTANT OPPRESSION. WE ARE SLAVES TO THE SYSTEM, AND ARE CONSIDERED WEAK SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR INABILITY TO ACCEPT THAT WHICH IS MORALLY WRONG. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS DOESN'T CONTINUE HAPPENING. THIS ISN'T JUSTICE. THIS IS CLEANSING OF PEOPLE WHO YOU BELIEVE WILL OPPOSE YOU. THAT IS EVIL. LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE IS THE TRAIT OF HUMANITY AND WE HAVE THE WISDOM TO CHANGE THE WAYS OF THE WORLD NO MATTER HOW MUCH MAGIC IS IN IT. IT IS TRUE THAT WE AREN'T AS POWERFUL AS YOU, BUT WE WERE STILL GIVEN THESE ABILITIES BY THE ONES IN CONTROL TO HELP IT. IT IS THE WAY OF GOD. INSTITUTIONALIZING THIS TYPE OF NONSENSE ONLY MULTIPLIES OUR TROUBLES. WHY RISK KILLING US ALL, AND YOUR OBSTACLES DOUBLE." From his robe he takes out a grimoire, and flips to a specific page. Scribbled ancient writings appear on the page, and the book starts to light up. " By your logic, the only way to prosper is to kill those who are morally wrong and more likely to cause chaos. So, you too deserve to die."
In less than 5 seconds, he gets stabbed in the heart by Eliot. Eliot puts his blade back into its sheath. " You're right. To subjugate and dehumanize a race, call them devils is evil and morally incorrect. But that's just how life goes. To say that we are powerless you stop you from rebelling is entirely incorrect. Humans have beat every obstacle that they have met in history, by any means necessary. It is our history, and it is our future. You ask us why I'm doing this, but have you ever taken into consideration the effects. What about my life, my family, my home? There will be no difference in the history of mage craft. As long as I live, I carry this sword against those who defy the will of God. You need to learn that not everyone is created equally. I'll slay those who stand against this cause, even if they claim to be on my side." He shoots a glance at Angel, and she can feel his words being directed towards her. By now, the man is bleeding out on the floor beneath Eliot's boot. Eliot turns to the rest of the frighted subjects.
" You'll have 10 minutes. The last person standing by then will have the chance to become the seventh honorary member of the Cerberus Corps. The other three members are testing the rest of you from the African, Oceania and Asian branches in Hong Kong as we speak. Whoever survives will be able to fight against their chosen candidate. I suggest that you start fighting, if you want to see your families one last time." Eliot took his seat back on the throne.
" Angel, watch closely. As they fight, their energy slowly becomes higher. And with each passing second, the passion to survive grows within them. If that happens, then none of them will try to escape. They've realized that this is the only option. The golden age has begun." He puts his hand on her shoulder, but she shrugs it off.
" This isn't right. I don't want to see this." Her eyes begin to tear up. Angel stands up, and walks away, only to be stopped when Carmen's hand grabs hers. " We'll talk later. It'll be okay." She whispered this quietly so Eliot couldn't hear. Angel continues moving. After she exits the room, she begins coughing again. Blood.
" I have my eyes on that one right there." Eliot said to Carmen. He points at a girl in the chaos, fair skinned with light blue hair and red eyes. " I think she's going to win." The girl was stabbing her way through the crowd, killing everyone who tried to attack her. But the person next to her was mysterious. A girl about the same age, with light green eyes, brown hair, a fair complexion and a peculiar marking on her eyes. She didn't fight anyone, and no one noticed her, well maybe except Carmen. Her hood was still on. Amid the chaos, someone using their light craft to blind their opponents. When the room returns back to normal, she's gone. Carmen doesn't say a word.