How do you readers like the simultaneous POVs?
Giliath still appreciates your power stones even on days chapters aren't posted!
*****
Crossbell City
Some moments later.
8:30AM.
Some time has passed since I've arrived here at Crossbell City, only to meet up with Professor Schmidt's entourage. It was a benefit that I didn't expect. I was able to unlock Favorability with Professor Schmidt, and at the same time, he'll be able to test out those two Master Quartz I lent him.
Hopefully, anyways.
Master Quartz made their first appearance in Trails to Azure. The orbal density these Master Quartz could withstand paled in comparison to Master Quartz that appeared in Trails into Reverie.
To give it the easiest explanation I can give, Master Quartz in Azure only goes up to Level 5. In Reverie, that capacity is increased thrice, allowing people to level them up all the way to 15. Not only that, Azure Master Quartz only contained two beneficial effects, while the ones in Reverie contained three effects.
In short, the ones that will appear several years down the line will be much higher sought after. And I only have five to work with. Personally speaking, I will likely rely on using Andvari over my other Master Quartz because of the density it can withstand.
Not that I won't use the rest. Azure Master Quartz especially, they have a neat little effect whenever higher elements are present. They can cast wide field effects that last for a period of time, providing various effects. Considering there won't likely be any of these elements during battle, I am curious to what these effects will convert to. The only one that might stick around is the Rune of Affection, which heals everyone's health by 50% upon activation.
And well, Tio mentioned she would be in charge of handling my Enigma II from here on. If my Enigma II does require any further upgrades to handle more orbal energy, I'll leave it to Tio. I'm sure she'll do a fine job.
Back to the present though, Lucy had departed from our group for the time being.
Lechter remained behind, which surprised me a bit. Since he did, I chose to berate his actions of not escorting Lucy out to the bus. Her safety is far more of a concern than mine presently is. That bus travels on the road to St. Ursula, which poses a risk of encountering monsters. An example of this was when Estelle and Joshua first met the SSS when they assisted in a civilian rescue of a bus that was held hostage by rather large ape-like monsters.
Lechter could see the seriousness in my eyes as he initially tried to sway my opinion on the matter. He stated my safety was more of a priority over Lucy's, and it's not like I didn't get that point. After all, I was a member of a royal family, while Lucy was just a normal civilian. But as Lechter previously stated, my strength definitely overpowers him at this point, and I could likely beat Lechter in a one-on-one fight if I decided to challenge him. I had that much confidence.
In response, Lechter saw my determined look, and he slumped his shoulders in defeat. He acknowledged it, which prompted us to head back down to the first floor of the Times Department store.
It was just us four now. Professor Schmidt already took his leave to head toward Crossbell Airport. He had a flight to get to, which would bring him back to Leman State, and that country housed the main HQ of the Epstein Foundation. The funny thing was, he literally dragged Jona back with him, despite Jona berating him and wanting to stay with us.
During those couple of moments, Tio just watched with a dead look, and left it up to fate.
With that in mind, Sherryl was to my right with Tio to my left, she was currently holding my hand as we observed the scarlet-haired man before us.
"Are ya sure ya don't need me, Young Master?", Lechter asked one final time.
"The least one you should worry about is me, Lechter, and you know it. I know how to handle my own business. Lucy is one of the few good friends you've made during your school studies right? Go chase after her and make sure she arrives at St. Ursula safely. Don't half-ass it either. If I catch you goofing off during that escort I'll report to father that you're slacking on your duties, heh.", I answered with a smirk.
"Coming from the likes of you, Young Master, I can see you doing that. I've already gotten yelled at enough times by your old man, so I'll refrain from doing that, thank you very much.", Lechter retorted. After saying that, he continued to speak.
"But I just gotta know one thing, Young Master. You seem to be going a bit overboard being overprotective like this. The bus knows its system well. Or could it be, do you like Lucy?", Lechter asked with a grin.
Hearing that, I only shook my head and let out a sigh.
"I'm doing this for you, you idiot. I've only been around Lucy for a couple of hours. I'm pretty sure she likes you.", I immediately retorted with a scoff.
"Haha, now that's the best joke I've heard all day. There's no way in Aidios's name Lucy would like a slacker like me. But if you insist, I'll make sure Lucy makes it to the hospital. Don't do anything world-ending during my absence alright? I left you alone for a few moments back at that resort island, and you wound up challenging the Jaeger King to a duel.", Lechter said with a serious look.
"Hahaha. No promises to that. But you won't need to worry about me. We'll be heading to the CPD shortly. Off you go.", I said.
"Bye-bye.", Tio simply said, waving her hand.
Lechter departed from the store, leaving us three to our own devices.
We were toward the side of the entrance, which didn't block anyone going in or out of the store. Taking a moment, I glanced at the lilac-haired girl before me. Both Sherryl and Tio were pretty much the same age, if I recall, or perhaps Sherryl was half a year or so older. She would be turning eleven this year along with Alfin. Tio was still nine, and she would be turning ten. But all three girls were pretty close in age, so I hope both Tio and Sherryl will become good friends with Alfin in the coming future.
But Sherryl in particular. My eyes remained on her for a good moment.
"Are you having doubts, Master?", Sherryl asked me, which distracted me with her phrasing. I could only blink at her as she addressed me like this.
"Master?", I mused.
"Uh-huh. I know I'll be absent during my studies at St. Astraia, but I can start addressing you as such, right? I don't think it's appropriate to address you as 'Young Master', as Lord Lechter does. That's more of a House thing, isn't it?", Sherryl asked with a doubtful look.
"That's more or less true. Nobles of the Great Houses place far more importance on how they address someone in particular ways, compared to royalty. We just have one title we typically go by.", I responded with a nod.
"Your case is different though, right, Naoto?", Tio asked.
"Yeah. The blood running through me is rather abhorrent. One of the mightiest figures in Erebonia married into the bloodline of a monarchy, who just happens to be part of a noble family that got wiped away during the War of the Lions. Sometimes, it's hard trying to figure out who it is I really am.", I answered in a low voice.
"Master...", Sherryl uttered with a hint of worry in her eyes. Both Sherryl and Tio knew who I really was, minus the reincarnation part, as I shared with them the photo that I carried around, which was the house I grew up with father and mother, and of course, Rean. Tio just looked at me with her dead eyes.
"Naoto is Naoto. You're my friend and you saved me from that terrible place.", Tio replied, revealing a warm smile.
"Hahaha, you always seem to have the right answer, Tio. I'm glad you're my friend too.", I replied, seeing Tio with that smile across her lips. She wasn't her usual cold look, I could see she was truly happy. She was starting to express her emotions better now.
"Mmm.", Tio nodded as I patted Tio's head, and ruffled through her hair.
"Shall we go, Master? You wanted to drop by the CPD right?", Sherryl asked.
"Yeah. This is for you, Sherryl. If you want to stay hidden in the shadows, now is the time to let me know. But you don't want to keep your big sister waiting, right?", I asked.
I saw a smile bloom on Sherryl's face, and the gaze she showed me was a look of determination.
"I'm ready, Master. I don't want to keep big sis waiting. I'm sure she has suffered enough. I would like to learn the state of my family too, I am not sure of my parents whereabouts.", Sherryl responded with a firm nod.
"Great. Let's go set off then--?", I tried to say to Tio and Sherryl. The three of us were suddenly distracted by a buzzing sound. I felt a couple vibrations strike against the inside of one of my pockets. Tio raised her eyes as she was close enough to hear this.
"Another message, Naoto?", Tio wondered.
"Sounds like it. I didn't think I'd get another one, but I'll double check it so it isn't important. There should only be one person who knows how to contact me like this, so it's probably Kitty again.", I wondered to myself.
"Kitty...", Tio uttered. "That has to be Renne, right?", Tio asked.
"Is it really Renne? I knew she was a smart cookie, but I didn't think she could send you messages over the orbal net like this. Didn't it just get installed here?", Sherryl wondered too.
"Do not underestimate her. She was with us in those caves. I did hear about what she ended up getting, and it seems her thinking capacity is several times larger than what it should be. I did receive some similar benefits to that, but Renne's brain power is much larger than my own.", Tio explained.
"Is that how it is? So you're saying Renne is much smarter than you? Isn't she younger?", Sherryl doubted.
"Only by a year or two at most, but yes. I, on the other hand, became more sensitive to my surroundings. I can detect many things invisible to the naked eye.", Tio continued.
"While I can freely control the blood inside my body to put it into a hyperactive state.", Sherryl murmured.
"We all got something out of it in the end, didn't we?", I mused, recalling the time we spent in those caves. It wasn't necessarily a pleasant one, but my intervention was early enough to where these girls didn't experience the true horror behind the cult experiments.
If it was too late, Sherryl would have wound up as a mutilated corpse, Tio in a barely-conscious state hooked up to some machine, while Renne beaten to near death as a form of pleasure. It didn't state what Ennea and Van wound up as, but no doubt it would be as cruel as what would happen to the girls.
I could only shudder thinking of such scenes happening as I reached into my pocket to pull out my Enigma II. Thankfully we were kept to ourselves at a distance from other folks that were shopping around for goods, and they didn't see my orbal device. Tio was close enough to where she could see my menu. Turning it back on, the screen of my Enigma II device lit up.
Sure enough, I had one new message. Opening it, I began to read its content.