Ciara's new life in a true fairytale was surprisingly idyllic, she decided. It was certainly nothing that she could've hoped to expect. Predictions went odd and strange and, quite frankly, wonky around her new Prince. Not that Ciara had particularly been in the habit of constantly running the precognition that her court could offer her. She could — and did so often enough — but she preferred the novelty of living her life in the moment these days.
Especially now, having met her Raven Prince, that was just about the only option available to her. And Ciara rather liked the fact that she could never completely know what was coming next. At the same time, she rather liked everything else Edgar dè Brân brought into her life. Never before had she been more engaged with the world, more excited for everything a new day would bring. Anything and everything seemed possible. With a true Fae leading the way, breaking through mundanity like an icebreaker's plow, the impossible became very, very real.
As a young girl in the… before… Ciara had dreamed in fairy tales. She saw the world through glasses tinted by bedtime bogeymen, colorful characters young and old, and noble life lessons. Nothing was more fascinating to her than fantastical stories of magic, mystery, and mystical malice. She'd wished — upon stars, eyelashes, and blown-out candles — for nothing more than to slip away from the world into impossible lands at the blurring borders of human consciousness. Would that the world whisked her away for a fairy tale adventure of her own… then… then perhaps she would've been happy…
Alas, her Peter Pan and Neverland never came. The world was cruel and dull in its mediocrity. Even when capes appeared, and Earth Bet was turned on its head and never allowed to recover, Ciara felt the same. Colorful costumes they may have worn, they weren't the characters from Ciara's dreams. There was no magic to them. Only conflict and chaos, spread as it was by their every action.
Ciara dreamed in fairy tales, but they seemed destined to never be. Then, the world struck out at her routine existence with a vengeance, and Ciara found herself among those capes that failed to pique her interest. Yet, with reality's second blow — reopening old wounds from the first so soon after — that mundane reality seemed destined to change. Ciara was shown so much more by her second trigger. A dance of crystalline courts, infinite and inevitable, shined above the world, unseen by those who played their parts. Ciara was shown the truth, and she interpreted it through the only lens she had.
A new mantle called to her then, and Ciara dutifully stepped up into it. She became the Faerie Queen, holding a court all her own. Ciara took it upon herself to bring the stories of her childhood to life. Powers were crystal ghosts that few could see, and of which only Ciara knew the truth. It was the hidden magic of the world that she'd always yearned for. A fairy tale that loomed unseen behind the cape scene. Or so it seemed…
But even that didn't last. Her reign as the Faerie Queen became routine, just like everything else the world had to offer. She learned the rules that no one else knew. And then, there was nothing more to learn. It should've been her first sign that everything was not how she assumed it to be. A true fairy tale wouldn't yield so easily to consistent logic.
Yet she was nothing if not desperate, something she would never admit to another soul. The false fairy tale was all she had. It was her past imposed upon her present, and she clung to it like a lifeline. Her naive assumption kept her afloat. At the time, she couldn't even allow herself to see just how flimsy it was. The crystal fairies of her court made for poor company, yet Ciara forced herself to think nothing of it. She was the Faerie Queen, after all, and she'd seen the dancing courts with her own eyes.
At times, it felt as if she was simply watching the world go by from within her mind, safe and comforted by the idea that no others knew what she knew. She'd seen the role she had to play in the great cycle of dancing courts. Yet, unlike the others, she was not merely haunted by a ghostly crystal fairy. No, she'd taken up her mantle in full. She would be the Faerie Queen and, eventually, the Keeper of the Dead. At the end of it all, she would collect everything, and the cycle she'd seen would start again. Wouldn't it…?
She'd been a fool, Ciara knew now. For one, the cycle she'd seen had been doomed since it started this iteration. She wasn't part of some greater, continuous fairy tale. She'd come in at the abject lesson portion of the story. She'd been content to personally relegate herself to the Birdcage as she waited for the world to pass her by, waited for the time to come when she would play her part. And that was exactly what would've happened. Any chance at life she'd had was thrown to the wind by Ciara herself. If she had continued as she was, she truly would've become the Keeper of the Dead. Not merely for the role she played but for the crystal cycle that would've never risen again.
For another… Ciara hadn't even known how wrong she was. Everything she'd believed had been based on bias and seen through tinted glasses. The crystal courts she'd glimpsed had little, if anything, to do with the fairy tales she so aspired to. They may have been fantastical, but they were no fantasy. They were devoid of a fairy tale's magic and morality — the questions and challenges, the lessons to live by, and adversities to heroically conquer — that gripped and infatuated Ciara to the point of hyperfixation during her most formative years. Most blatantly, most egregiously, most damningly…! The crystal courts were no true Fae…
Edgar — Ciara's Raven Prince — had shown her that much. With no frame of reference other than her bias, she'd mistaken crystal ghosts for Fae of Summer and Winter. Apart from alien logic, they were nothing alike. She cursed herself for not seeing through it sooner, for the crystal cycle was ultimately pointless. And every fairy tale Ciara knew was anything but.
There was a purpose to be found in every fairy tale. A life lesson, an inspiration, or even just a simple thought experiment. At the very least, one might come away from a fairy tale thinking, 'Wow, that was fucked up'. Yet even that thought gave the fairy tale a reason to be.
Purpose. That was what Ciara had been missing. Both in her life and in her biased assumption. A fairy tale couldn't exist without it. Neither could a true Fae. The crystal cycle claimed a true purpose, but it was false. Flat. Oh, oh-so-empty. 'Everything must die.' It was a common lesson for a reason. Yet the crystal courts aimed only to defeat death in some vague, undefined manner. If they could listen, Ciara knew half a dozen tales off the top of her head that could bring their 'purpose' into question.
By comparison, the purpose that'd stepped into her life with its Raven Prince was simple, wholesome, and noble. Edgar's very existence confronted and shattered Ciara's illusions. He revived her sense of wonder as it was falling to mundanity. And all he wished for in return was the chance to learn and grow. To experience humanity in all its aspects and have an interesting adventure.
His was a noble purpose, and Ciara found herself wanting to help him fulfill it however she could. They meshed well together, she found, coming from unfamiliarly familiar places and going where only they could guess. Both of them had fallen into routine existences, only for the faded sparks of liveliness within them to be recently reignited. Where Ciara found her interest again in magic, Edgar found his interest in mundanity. And after a lifetime of it, Ciara knew mundanity. Likewise, after a lifetime of what Ciara had thought to be impossible, Edgar knew magic. In a very real way, Ciara had adopted Edgar's purpose, for he brought so much more that she could experience and explore — childish hopes and dreams thought lost to the reality of the world.
And that was entirely without mentioning the person Edgar was. Her Raven Prince was someone worth knowing, worth following, worth walking beside into renewed excitement and love for life. So Ciara would. He'd stepped in and taken shock paddles to her routine existence. He'd shaken her from her assumed fugue. He brought her childhood dreams — memories of a simpler, more blissful time — to life with his mere existence. And for that, Ciara would follow him to the ends of the Earth and beyond. It was that simple.
So far, their journey together as Raven Prince and Faerie Maiden had lasted all of a week. Yet already, Ciara knew she would never come to regret her decision. Every moment of her new life felt like a dream come true. She was no longer watching the world go by from the deceptive comforts of her mind and self-imposed cell. No, she was experiencing every instant as if it was new to her, just as Edgar was.
Upon their escape from that terribly mundane prison — the bars meant to keep her safe from the world, or more accurately, keep the world safe from her… — Ciara's new fairy tale had begun. It couldn't have been more perfect, more fairy-tale-esque, if she'd written it herself.
Like Rapunzel, she set out into the world, freeing herself from her cell. Like Alice, she was shown glimpses of a wonderful world of magic. Like Aladdin, a steadfast and magical companion joined her. Like Cinderella, she was made to take on a new mantle and silhouette, new clothes for new occasions. Like Sinbad, the Little Mermaid, the Puss in Boots, and so, so many more, Ciara could wholeheartedly declare, 'Adventure awaits!'
The Raven Prince and the Faerie Maiden. A fairy tale yet to be written. Already, they were gathering allies for themselves. A noble Dragon, good, true, and newly freed from cruel chains. A Sultry Unicorn to watch over them from afar (where she belonged! Ciara would not have the paradoxically indecent wench seducing her Raven Prince!). A tragic protector — armored in her fetching hat against the hard decisions she was forced to make —, now shown a new and better Path forward. And most importantly of them all, the next generation of the crystal cycle, usurped by the true Fae.
Eve was… everything in Ciara's mind. That beautiful babe showered in love and affection — she would be the world's truest hope. She was the heiress who would break free of the cycle that had lied to Ciara for so long. She was the audience for Ciara's fairy tale. She was a new being, born of both magic and mundanity. Little Eve would be the best of them all — the best of her father, mother, and her big sisters, too. She was the culmination of the cycle, a new purpose thrust upon it that was infinitely more worthy than the false purpose it claimed.
She was also… painfully adorable and lovable. Quite literally, as Ciara often found her heart aching in the crystal heiress' company. It was a good ache. Even with nothing to do but travel, Ciara could never call time spent with Eve time wasted. And so, the hours passed them by, driving and enjoying each other's company. Ciara had never experienced anything like it. She didn't hate it…
"Hoboboyo~?" Eve babbled.
Edgar nodded along with his daughter, "Yes, I do believe that is the case."
"Buruprup."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far, little one."
"Hurumphurump…"
"Oh, don't pout so, my darling Eve. I'm sure you're positively famous at this point."
"Bupapa~!"
"Yes?"
"Skigagaigyah~!"
"When you put it that way… Yes, we'll have to step up our efforts."
"Spurrupss~?"
"An intriguing idea, my dear, but I can't say what the likely result would be. Specifically, how would the public react? Shall we ask your mother?"
"Ya!"
"Fortuna, o' Fortuna, we require the input of your sound mind~," Edgar singsonged.
Fortuna groaned, "Must I? I can already imagine the attention-seeking atrocity you two have in mind…"
"I'd be offended if you couldn't," Edgar chuckled. "Eve's proposal was rather straightforward and easy to follow."
"For you," Fortuna deadpanned.
Edgar cocked his head, "You mean you didn't understand her?"
"She's speaking Baby, not English!"
"And?"
Fortuna turned in her seat to glare at him, grumbling, "Just tell me the idea already."
"Very well. Eve seems taken by a sudden streak of charity. Or, more accurately, she wishes to spread her name to the masses. She thinks — and I rather agree — that the best way to do so would be to do a service for Earth Bet that cannot be ignored or denied."
"I have a terrible feeling that I know exactly where this is going…"
"Heh~, indeed. How would the public react if our dearest baby girl began culling the many S-class threats on record~?"
Fortuna stared at him in disbelief. Even without a humanoid body for the moment, Dragon managed to give the same impression. And Ciara herself couldn't help but giggle. It was simply too good, the perfect mix of audacious, ridiculous, and genuine that she was coming to identify as a trademark of Edgar. And little Eve took after her father, it seemed. Only, perhaps with more of a practical, greater-good-focused perspective that she inherited from her mother.
Eventually, Fortuna sighed, "Ha… I suppose the original Path is already shot to pieces… And honestly, some of the S-class threats could've been dealt with long ago. In a perfect world, they would've been, and I wouldn't have had to dirty my hands so much…"
"Then, isn't this your chance to put things right?" Ciara put forth. "To clean your hands? It might be posthumously, but at least they would be clean."
"Dealing with S-class threats is also entirely within the Guild's remit," Dragon added.
"I'm aware," Fortuna deadpanned. "You've simply been too hamstrung to be effective."
"And who's fault is that?!" Dragon snapped.
Fortuna didn't even flinch, "Directly? Not mine. But the fate of all Earths is a heavy weight to bear. Some things were unavoidable."
"I disagree. Heavily," Dragon said icily.
"We had no other choice!" Fortuna snapped back. "Do you think I enjoyed enabling evil?! The Path was our only hope! We were trying to snatch a needle from a falling haystack! We dirtied our hands for the future of everyone and everything we've ever known!
The topic of Cauldron and everything that was done to save the world from the fading cycle had become a common point of contention between the two of them. And none of them were dull enough to think that Fortuna had shared everything she'd done for her previous Path. Dragon, in particular, had come to hate the idea of the 'Greater Good', and all of the atrocities that inevitably came with it. Considering her circumstances, Ciara couldn't blame her. But ultimately, it was a problem with no objectively correct answer. A moral dilemma of the One vs. the Many.
Fortunately, it was also a dilemma that could be left in the past, Edgar asserting as much, "It doesn't matter much now, does it? Your Path has been changed so drastically that the previous one might as well have been abandoned. Eve presents another option, a better option, for everyone involved. Dragon's argument is morally sound. As is yours, Fortuna, from another point of view. But the only thing we can do is change the present and forge a better future. Wouldn't Eve's suggestion do exactly that~?"
"Yahaha~!" Eve agreed, cutting through the tension between Dragon and Fortuna in that adorably disarming way of hers.
Fortuna glanced away from everyone, "… It's for the best."
"… At least the S-classes will finally be dealt with," Dragon conceded.
"Yes, by a crystal baby," Ciara pointed out in a droll voice. "Heiress she may be, but the public does not know that. Their reactions will be… something."
"… I'm sure stranger things have happened, but I can't think of them," Fortuna admitted.
"I'm not sure they have," Dragon's icy disagreement gave way to amiable amusement.
"Eve will do wonderfully. Nothing this world can throw at her will be enough to bring my dear daughter down~," Edgar chuckled.
"Pbbbbbbbhhtttt~!" Eve blew a raspberry that perfectly summed up the 'challenges' she would face. At least, it did in Ciara's mind.
She laughed to herself, "They won't know what hit them. Oh, I simply cannot wait to see Jack Slash's expression when he realizes his doom~!"
"Perhaps… we should hold off until things are a touch more settled," Fortuna suggested. "I'll admit, even knowing what I do, I'm a bit hesitant to throw my daughter at that madman."
"Then we shall make sure she does not go into her quest alone," Edgar said simply.
"This may be unnecessary, my heiress," Ciara said, speaking directly to Eve. "But know that you may always call upon me and my court."
"Hububb. Iyah skiskish," Eve intoned with utter seriousness. As she did, she passed the magic wand granted to her by her father through her pod as if its glass wasn't real. It floated under her control and ended up tapping Ciara on both of her shoulders as if a sword to a knight.
Ciara bowed her head slightly, "You honor me, my heiress. I will strive to never let you down."
Edgar's grin as he watched the scene was wide with almost alien satisfaction and may or may not have caused Ciara's heart to skip a beat. He purred, "Perfect~… Simply perfect~…"
Then, he clapped, "Now! How long until our next destination? I feel the urge to stretch my legs all of a sudden."
"Uh oh…" Fortuna muttered. "That can't be good… Quick, distract him! Eve! Dragon! Ciara! Distract!"
Ciara sniffed, turning up her nose, "If my Prince wishes to stretch his legs, his legs will be stretched."
Dragon chuckled, "We're making good time. Only an hour or so until we hit Chicago. But really, how much trouble can he get into in Chicago?"
"Madison," Fortuna bluntly reminded.
Even Ciara winced at that. They didn't stop at the quarantined city, yet they still managed to make waves. Oh, the walls didn't fall or anything so dramatic. But perhaps handing Edgar the reins of the RV's megaphone wasn't such a good idea… Even after putting a good distance between themselves and Madison, they'd still been able to quite literally hear that unpleasant Tagg fellow foaming at the mouth. Who could've possibly predicted that he'd be so utterly unreasonable when confronted with an innocent question like, 'Is that big stick you're carrying compensating for something~?'
"And we'll actually be stopping in Chicago," Fortuna deadpanned. "Plus, Myrddin. Must I elaborate?"
"Ah. Myrddin… Do we, uh, have to stop in Chicago…?" Dragon asked.
"Oh, most definitely~," Edgar's throat rumbled with laughter. "You've succeeded in piquing my interest even higher than it already was~. Why, I'm half-tempted to run on ahead and get myself an early start on the fun~!"
Oddly enough, it was Eve who saved them — at least momentarily — from brewing Fae disaster, "Gaa~chaa~?"
And she did so with a whole word! Her first! Ciara could just about glow with pride in the little heiress. It seemed Edgar was of the same mind, for he froze in place. A little surprised noise bubbled in his chest. Of course, Ciara nodded to herself, only a Fae's daughter could surprise him so. A bright, beaming smile spread across his face as he turned to face Eve with a look of pure love that ignited butterflies in Ciara's stomach. O-Oh… That simply wasn't fair at all~…
"Isn't that just entirely appropriate~?" Edgar chuckled, half to himself and half to Eve. "'Gacha' for my beautiful, darling, gacha-spawned girl. Very well, my dear, dear Eve~. I suppose we are due for a roll or four. Would you like to do the honors~?"
Fortuna breathed a sigh of relief, but it was a thing of thin margins. The Fae disaster was prevented — or delayed, more accurately — but it was exchanged for something just as eventful. Edgar's System was something Ciara still struggled to wrap her head around. A magic to grant magicks. She suspected that even Edgar didn't know its full extent, its true depths. But wasn't that what made it so exciting~?
Ciara certainly wouldn't miss one of Edgar's rolls for the world if she could help it. A part of her held out hope that one of the magicks he drew from the proverbial deck could extend to her. Edgar had never said such a thing was impossible. In fact, he said it was entirely likely. Only a matter of time. Sooner rather than later, Edgar promised (he was too good to her…). If not through chance, then through purposeful action as the System regained its full capabilities. And wasn't that a shocking tidbit to learn… As magical and inspiring as Edgar's System was, it was still only a shadow of itself.
She didn't even have to ask to be included this time. Wordlessly, ghostly text appeared before Ciara's eyes. She knew it was the same for Dragon and Fortuna, feeling vague and esoteric links between them all. They were all guests in Edgar's System. As was little Eve, and it was she who pulled the proverbial lever.
[400P available. Would you like to roll the Gacha? Y/N]
"Afufuya~!" Eve declared, pulling her little arm down as if she was spinning a wheel.
*DING! BA~RING! CHA~CHA~CHING!*
On and on the unbelievably potent magical System to shatter everything Earth Bet held as reasonable rolled. Eve was mesmerized by the flashing lights and passing magicks. Her eyes went wide. Her mouth flapped soundlessly. She looked to be memorizing each and every perk that passed her eyes. Watching her, Ciara couldn't help but feel that Eve would soon know the System better than her father. But eventually, the first roll of four came to a paradoxically uneventful stop.
*Ding!* [Awesome Shades - Making (Toaruverse, 200P)]
"Is that just…?" Fortuna began to ask, her voice strained.
"Hmm~, I do believe so. It's just a rather fashionable pair of shaded glasses," Edgar confirmed, amusement thick in his voice. "You know, I think I could use a pair of 'Awesome Shades'~…"
"Don't!/No, my Prince!" Dragon and Ciara protested at the same time.
Ciara explained her reasoning first, sniffing dismissively, "The price is entirely unfair. On our first meeting, 200 points were enough to purchase the ability to look into the very Origin of one's being. Now, 200 points will only give you a pair of sunglasses?! Preposterous!"
"I believe there's a saying for situations like this," Edgar noted with a smirk. "Inflation is something of a bitch, isn't it~?"
Dragon made a noise that made it seem like she was nodding vigorously in her cyberspace, "Even 100 of these points is enough to change the cape game drastically. Please, please don't waste 200 of them on 'Awesome Shades'. We can buy you a pair that doesn't cost the net worth of entire nations!"
Fortuna snorted, "Entire nations would sell their souls for Edgar's points. No, they're quite literally priceless. And most certainly not something to waste on a pair of glasses."
"But think of how cute Eve would look in a pair of Awesome Shades!" Edgar argued half-heartedly, sounding like he was barely containing his laughter.
Ciara was ashamed to admit that the argument still nearly swayed her… "No… No, we must not give in to temptation! Pass on the Awesome Shades, my Prince. I shall make you and Eve pairs to act as suitable compensation."
Edgar nodded, "You drive a hard bargain. Very well, onto the next."
*Ding!* [Divine Spells - Modus (Fate/Legends, 200P)]
"Oh. My. Fucking. God…" Dragon muttered in disbelief.
"Literally," Fortuna snorted. "And isn't that a contrast? 200 points for Awesome Shades and 200 points for Divine Spells. The prices for magic are bullshit, inconsistent, and I'm tempted to write straight to your System's manager."
[Just try it, Karen. The Grimoire would smack you down quicker than you could finish complaining.]
"Karen…?" Edgar's face scrunched up as he rolled the name on his tongue. "Oh, what an unfortunate name."
"Hold on just a moment," Dragon said. "This is a 'yes', right? Like, it has to be, right?! Divine Spells! Water to Wine and all that jazz!"
"Tsk, I wouldn't be so hasty," Edgar clicked his tongue. "It's not actual divinity."
"Lama~magah," Funnily enough, it was Eve who noticed and pointed out the same thing. A tiny finger brought attention to the description that they all could and couldn't see before them.
[They call it a blessing from God, a sign that this persecuted religion is meant for something more. The miracles you can perform are wonders to these ordinary people, healing them with a touch or bringing life to rotting crops. But in truth, you are using Magecraft without realization or training. Activating magical circuits and channeling the energy into spells comes naturally, like breathing or walking to newborn calves. Self-study and making progress without teachers is easy, especially when you use this magical ability to perform things seen as Abrahamic miracles. While your power is limited, this too can grow in times when your flock has need or you fight an opponent of your faith, to potentially many times your normal level if the need is truly dire and the situation recalls one from your holy stories.]
"So… counterfeit miracles…?" Dragon asked.
"Mmm, yes, quite," Edgar confirmed with a hum. "Though to be entirely fair to the perk, this Magecraft is not a magic I've heard of. For that alone, it might be intriguing. But the 'divinity' is just the glossy coating on otherwise mortal magic."
"Hmph, it is unnecessary then," Ciara declared. "You, my Prince, are no charlatan. Much less one that needs to pose as some false prophet."
"And nothing much of value was lost," Fortuna said. "Biblical miracles are surprisingly underwhelming for our situation."
"Blasphemy and sacrilege? From you, Fortuna? Why, I never," Dragon deadpanned.
Fortuna just shrugged, "Healing? Walking on water? Water into wine? I can think of several capes who could do the same. Controlling the weather to calm storms is undeniably impressive but not all that useful in the grand scheme of things. But I will admit that reviving the dead and feeding large groups of people would be… good abilities to have on hand…"
"Priests must love you."
"I'm not a little choir boy with overly trusting parents, so I doubt it."
Edgar blinked, not privy to the context of the quip, "Is… Is that a problem human priests have?"
"Unfortunately?" Dragon sighed. "Yes, it seems to be something systemic to the Catholic Church."
Edgar frowned, "I answer to no divines, but that doesn't seem right… Has this Biblical God given up smiting for some reason? That doesn't sound at all like the gods I know of…"
"Let's not tempt fate if we can help it. That would solve half of our problems and cause half as many new ones in turn. Anyway," Fortuna shook her head. "Two more rolls, yeah?"
*Ding!* [Triforce of Courage - The Fighter (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, 400P)]
Edgar perked up in interest, "Oh, now, isn't that a new sight~? Fascinating~…"
"Is it?" Ciara asked curiously. "It seems like a rather fortuitous roll, but I fail to see what fascinates you so, my Prince. Still, magical bravery, fitness, and skill are no small boons."
"Don't forget the wolf Changer form and the resistance to magical Master effects," Dragon added.
"And the mention of an omnipotent power left behind by a goddess," Fortuna deadpanned. "That might just be important."
"Yes, yes," Edgar chuckled. "But the most fascinating feature of the perk is in its title. This 'Fighter' classification is not one I've seen before. System~?"
[… Grimmy is branching out.]
"It can… do that…?" Dragon asked, bemused.
"Copakappa~!" Eve exclaimed, waving her hands and bringing crystals into existence that shook like rattles.
Edgar nodded, "As Eve said, I believe congratulations are in order, System. It is good to see you on the road of healing already."
[… There's still a long way to go. I can't even summon waifus yet…]
"Regardless, you've made good progress so far," Edgar waved away the System's pouting (for it sounded like nothing else to Ciara's mind). "You'll be in tip-top shape here soon enough."
"Hold on, should we linger on that 'summon waifus' bit for a moment…?!" Fortuna asked, just a touch frantic.
Ciara couldn't help but agree, nodding fiercely. Waifu… That word, while largely unfamiliar to her, did not fill her with supreme confidence. Would the System be providing companions?! Rivals?! Unworthy slatterns?! Concerned little sisters needed to know!
"Moving right along," Edgar said, rolling the words from his tongue with a charisma that brokered no disagreement.
"I will not be replaced!" Ciara blurted out, shocking even herself with the outburst.
Edgar blinked for a moment. It quickly turned into an amused yet surprisingly reassuring smirk, "Never, Ciara. Not even a perfect clone could replace you. You, my dear, are utterly unique in my heart."
"O-Oh…" Ciara paused and allowed herself to gather her wits again. "T-That is reassuring to hear. Not that I was worried, of course. My Raven Prince would never carelessly discard those close to him."
"After so long without anything I could genuinely call a friend or interesting companion?" Edgar asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Yes, it's quickly become unthinkable to ever go back to how I was living. Merely existing, really…"
He grew melancholic with the last, and Ciara nodded slowly and purposefully, an unspoken resolution settling within her heart, "Indeed, such a regression would be… unacceptable. It will never come to pass, my Prince."
Edgar shook off his melancholy quickly, smiling again, "Now, one last roll? Eve, if you would~?"
Eve simply stared at her father for a long, stretching moment. Eventually, she seemed to come to the same resolution that Ciara had. She nodded and babbled to herself, uncharacteristically serious, "Papayaha…"
Ciara took heart in the fact that she would always have an ally in little Eve. Edgar's short burst of melancholy was a sobering thing. Ciara instantly decided she hated it. She would never sleep easily until it was completely banished from his heart. Eve pulled her imaginary lever again, and the Gacha of a secretly melancholic Fae spun one last time.
*Ding!* [Denarian's Coin - The Necromancer (Dresden Files, 600P)]
"There it is again…" Edgar muttered to himself in absent curiosity.
"That, uh…" Dragon trailed off.
"The knowledge, advice, and teachings of a Fallen Angel as old as the universe with none of the downsides? I believe the answer can only be a resounding and emphatic 'YES'," Fortuna nodded frantically.
[Seconded.]
Edgar cocked his head at the unexpected input, "You as well, System?"
[… I deserve a hot Fallen Angel secretary.]
"There's no indication that the Fallen Angel within the coin would be attractive," Edgar pointed out, his lips quirking in amusement.
[Don't be daft. Of course, she will be. And she'll have a sultry, smokey, sinful voice fit for ASMR. That's just the way these things go.]
Edgar's laughter started as a chuckle and quickly grew, "What a strange thing for you to be so opinionated about~! Ahahah~! Very well. It would be rather cruel of me to deny you your 'hot Fallen Angel secretary', wouldn't it~?"
[Is that a rhetorical question? Yes. Yes, it would be. Systems deserve nice things too.]
"Do you even have the sexuality to appreciate the hot Fallen Angel secretary?" Dragon asked curiously. "I was under the impression that you were more of a true AI like K.I.T.T from Knight Rider than a more human AI like, well, me."
[I mean, yeah… but it's the principle of the thing.]
The System's insistence on the matter gave them all some pause. Frankly, Ciara felt that Edgar's System was just as unique as he was. Not that she'd met others of either kind to tell the difference. But strangely, the System's eccentricity helped put her mind at ease. It was disturbing to imagine such overarching power in the hands of something without so much personality, though Ciara couldn't quite discern why she felt that way… Ah. The idea reminded her too much of the Warrior, didn't it? Nigh-ultimate power and intelligence too dumb to actually direct it…
"Alright," Edgar said, drawing Ciara from her introspection. "I believe I've made my decisions. The first two fail to hold my interest, but I'd like to experience a third of omnipotent power. And then the last can be reserved so that the System may eventually have its secretary. I'm also rather interested in seeing what Fallen Angel joins us~."
"Fae and Fallen Angel," Fortuna snarked. "A match made quite literally anywhere but in Heaven."
[Perk reserved: Denarian's Coin]
[Denarian's Coin: Oh boy. Where did you find one of these? The 'this', in question, being the coin of a Denarian. But as if that wasn't rare enough, this is rather more than that. While unlikely to be any more moral or righteous than their fellows, this Denarian is utterly unique in that they don't want you to fall to the Hells and/or be their puppet.
[Instead, they're content to be an impossibly knowledgeable advisor, sounding board and teacher, while letting you go about doing whatever you want entirely free of their influence. It seems like they're giddy with the opportunity to actually get out of this universe with you at the end of this jump.
[For those not in the know, this is one of the Fallen Angels trapped in the Thirty pieces of Silver paid to Judas, a member of the Order of the Blackened Denarius. A being quite literally as old as the universe, the depth and breadth of what they know is beyond mortal (and most immortals') comprehension. And this isn't one of the rank and file either, the Angel this coin holds is second only to Anduriel in terms of power and knowledge, not to mention having their own unique power that you get to define, that's on the same level as being able to use any shadow in the world as a listening device. Any shadow, but not every shadow, mind you. An important difference.]
[Perk purchased. 0P remains in the bank.]
[Triforce of Courage - The Fighter (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, 400P): You have been blessed by Farore, one of the three Goddesses and the creator of life. In addition to the great bravery you now possess- which allows you to fearlessly face terrifying monsters- you are also at the peak of physical fitness for your race and are naturally talented with weapons and adventuring tools, mastering basic techniques as soon as you pick them up and learning more advanced skills quickly.
[When the land is shrouded in Twilight, you'll be able to keep a physical body by taking on the form of a powerful wolf; post-Jump you'll be able to do this at will, and you resist similar body or mind-altering magics much more easily.
[Finally, you possess one-third of the legendary Triforce- an omnipotent power left behind by the goddesses after they created the world. Although its power is greatly diminished on its own, bringing all three pieces of the Triforce together will grant unimaginable power.]
Ciara could quite literally see the power of the purchased perk as it rushed into her Raven Prince. A golden triangle pulsed with an unseen heartbeat. It settled over Edgar's chest. As it did, the pulse began to race and pound until each beat was indistinguishable from the last. Synched with Edgar's Fae physiology, Courage made magically manifest wove itself into his very being. As it disappeared, the Fae began to glow gold, Gold, GOLD!
The light was blinding as it overtook the interior of their vehicle. Yet, Ciara could only bask in it. Her spirits lifted. Her resolve firmed. Her heart raced and soared. After only a few moments that seemed to last forever, the Light of Courage faded. By chance, Ciara was left staring face-to-face with a most regal beast.
The wolf was massive, its eyes level with hers. They glinted with glimmering, gleaming gold. Its coat of fur was as black as a raven's wing and immaculately groomed. The wolven beast — Edgar — blinked at Ciara. Ciara blinked back but didn't flinch away. Edgar sat calmly on his new haunches. Enthralled by her Raven Prince's new form, Ciara slowly spoke.
"I… can work with this…" Her eyes darted downward unconsciously, and she found herself licking her lips. "Oh my. Y-Yes, I can still work with this..."
It took a surprised bark that sounded all too much like laughter for Ciara to realize what she'd just said… "E-Eep~!"
IIIII
Upon their arrival in Chicago, they were welcomed with open arms and a red carpet greeting. Ciara wasn't surprised by the development. It was only right, of course. And not least of all because of her Raven Prince and Heiress.
In all honesty, she doubted the welcome was for Edgar and Eve. Or even Fortuna. No, it had to be for Ciara herself and Dragon. Dragon was world famous. And Ciara had quickly come to believe that she deserved every ounce of that reputation, even if the world wouldn't accept her true nature. And Ciara herself… even if she was turning over a new leaf, the Faerie Queen was nothing if not infamous.
Had she ever been to Chicago before…? Ciara honestly couldn't remember. It was possible. During that time before she Birdcaged herself. That last year kind of blurred together in her mind. She'd been off-balance from her second trigger and the visions that led to her false assumptions. Interacting with so many capes in such short succession after that didn't help her memory either.
She remembered each Shard shade that joined her court during that time, but only for their Shards, not for the capes they'd once been. Ciara remembered roaming the country far and wide, but she didn't remember the sights she must have seen. And while she remembered being challenged over and over again by just about every cape she crossed, she didn't remember the specifics. It was perhaps not a dark time of her life, but certainly a misguided one.
Ultimately, though, Ciara knew her prior reputation wasn't made from nothing. She'd been something of a terror to the Cape community. But she also knew well enough to disregard the opinions of the masses. What did they matter to a Queen turned Maiden? Neither her mandate to rule nor serve was derived from the many and stupid. No, Ciara answered to higher powers — first, the dancing crystal cycle, and now, her Raven Prince. Let the world fear her, let them suspect her motivations and the authenticity of her new path. Ciara would give their opinions exactly as much weight as they deserved: none at all. She mattered to those who mattered to her. And in the end, that was all that mattered.
Still, she would at least pretend to be interested in the world outside of those she cared for. Her Prince might disapprove otherwise, for he found interest in just about everything Earth Bet had to offer. And Ciara knew he would do the same for her sake if their situations and their locale were reversed. If she wanted him to eventually show her the Faewild of his homelands, she should be able to return the favor. In the end, Edgar came first in Ciara's mind, even as she turned her attention to the rest of the world.
Truthfully, Dragon and Fortuna would make for better guides than her. But Ciara was loathe to admit such a weakness to her Prince. So she simply… didn't. Instead, she held herself regally, fully intent on making her Prince proud of her conduct. At the same time, she wracked her memory for anything related to Chicago and the capes they would encounter here.
The city itself was nothing special to Ciara. But Edgar appeared visibly impressed. A vast landscape of asphalt and concrete, glass and steel, and so, so many different people. It must have been a novel experience for the Fae Prince. Did the Fae have something similar? Or was the Winter Court simply palaces upon icy palaces, stretching into the infinite horizon? A city in its own way, but utterly alien to anything Earth Bet had to offer? Ciara had no way to know, yet she wished desperately to see it for herself.
Her eager curiosity was for another time, however, for their arrival in Chicago had been anticipated. Their trip across half of the country was largely a quiet affair, but inquisitive eyes had certainly fallen onto them in Seattle and Madison. Now, Chicago joined that curious fold. The slutty unicorn undoubtedly sent warnings ahead of them as well, Ciara grumbled within her mind.
The PRT and Protectorate were waiting when they finally reached Chicago's PRT campus. The extra hour they spent in Chicago traffic likely hadn't gone unappreciated by the hometown heroes. If Ciara was prone to paranoia, she would've mentioned how they were putting themselves entirely at Chicago's mercy. But truthfully? Nothing the city could've prepared would be enough to stop Dragon and Ciara, much less Edgar, Eve, and Fortuna.
The campus spanned a healthy bit of real estate on Goose Island. It was an artificial island located at a bend in the Chicago River, formed and separated from the rest of the city by the river to the west and a manmade canal to the east. Two pairs of bridges connected it to the 'mainland'. Altogether, it was a defensible location with relatively easy access to the rest of the city. The campus itself was dominated by a single skyscraper at the southernmost point of the island. The skyscraper was shaped like an 'L' standing on its shorter side, which itself rose to height in step-like features. A long and relatively skinny greenspace extended away from it, running parallel to the canal to the east. Smaller, squatter buildings surrounded both features, forming the rest of the campus.
In all, Ciara could hardly contain her boredom. It was just so… mundane. Just like everything else. The headquarters of government-sponsored superheroes and Ciara could've mistaken it for an office park. Oh, she knew her Prince would find it fascinating, but mundanity was half the reason Ciara had Birdcaged herself. Still, Ciara steeled her expression to greet their temporary hosts with her Prince, Heiress, and companions.
Four people met them as they dismounted Dragon's RV, Dragon herself following with her social suit. Two PRT, two Protectorate capes. The PRT members were largely unremarkable, yet Ciara did her best not to dismiss them out of hand. The two Protectorate capes were less so. The sight of Myrddin's Shard was familiar to Ciara, giving her the impression of a pocket inside a pocket inside a pocket (and so on ad infinitum). The second Shard flickered with the telltale colors of an energy manipulator, but Ciara couldn't say she was familiar with the cape it haunted.
The mood amongst the four was kept carefully calm and collected. They weren't showing any weakness, but no hostility, either. Strangely enough, it was Myrddin who appeared the most tense. Even the ever-adorable sight of Eve, carried by Edgar, didn't put him at ease.
"Welcome to Chicago, Dragon," The lead PRT member said.
"Always good to see you again, my friend," Myrddin added, his voice betraying none of the tension in his posture.
Dragon's suit nodded in greeting to each of the four in turn, "Director Heathrow, Myrddin, Revel, Deputy Director Sider. Thank you for indulging us. We don't intend to stay for long, just passing through, but I thought it'd be prudent to check in while we were in your city."
Myrddin managed to crack a seemingly natural smile, asking, "Just passing through, eh? And how goes the publicity tour for the Guild's newest members?"
"It's not a publicity tour, per se," Dragon chuckled. "But I suppose it could certainly substitute for one."
"So," Myrddin's smile grew strained. "Raven Prince and Faerie Maiden…?"
"First," Heathrow cut in. "Do you intend to cause any issues that would fall within our jurisdiction?"
"No…?" Dragon cocked her head. "I mean, we never 'intend' to at least. The business in Seattle found us and Madison… Well, let's not talk about Madison."
Edgar chuckled, adding in the background, "I swear I can still hear that unpleasant man shouting from here."
Heathrow stared at them assessingly for a moment before he nodded, "Good enough for me. I'll leave you cape types to catch up. Sider, with me."
"That's it?!" Myrddin's head snapped to face his Director.
"Guild business," Heathrow shrugged. "I trust Dragon to handle much more than a passing visit to our city."
"And…?" Myrddin made a vague gesture at Ciara and Edgar with his staff.
"If you feel the need, you can address it yourself," Heathrow ordered curtly. "Delegation. It's the lifeblood of a good leader."
With that, the PRT Director took his leave, clearly not sharing whatever concerns had Myrddin so tense. Direct, upfront, and leaving the silly cape business to the silly capes. Ciara nodded to herself. He'd made a good impression, almost entirely unlike…
"Dragon? Are you certain this is a wise course of action…?" Myrddin asked, pointedly referring to Ciara without saying as much.
Ciara scowled, "I am standing right here, Mage. And even with your rudeness, you shall find no enemy in me. I walk a new path now. I'm no longer a Queen, merely a Maiden. My Prince has lifted me from a darkness you could never fathom, and now, I am embracing the light at his behest."
"Baba baa~!" Eve chimed in support.
"Still…" Revel — Myrddin's second in command — said hesitantly. "The Birdcage is for life. It sets a poor precedent-…"
"Ciara was never sentenced to anything," Fortuna cut her off, sounding as bored as Ciara felt earlier.
Myrddin's eyes were concealed by his costume, but Ciara could practically feel him blink in uncomprehending surprise, "What…? Dragon…?"
"It's true," Dragon confirmed. "She Birdcaged herself. Everyone was just relieved that she wasn't a threat anymore, so that bit of information seems to have slipped through the cracks."
"Those gilded bars could never hold me," Ciara declared with an airy shrug. "But they were comfortable enough for my purposes at the time."
"Ah, yes, there's that as well," Dragon deadpanned. "I didn't actually extract Ciara from the Birdcage. She did that herself."
"What?!" Myrddin flinched. "Dragon! The Birdcage is inescapable. That's the entire point of it as a prison and as a concept. What if the other prisoners-?!"
"I was quick to address the issue," Dragon reassured, sounding slightly offended that she even had to. "Honestly, Myrddin, you do know me, right? Do you really think I wouldn't reinforce the Birdcage to Hell and back after I got over the shock? The point is moot, anyway. Ciara could do it because she's Ciara."
"And the world is extremely fortunate that no one else can claim the same," Edgar smirked. "Though, I suppose having two adorable Faerie Maidens to keep me company wouldn't be so terrible~."
Ciara blushed a giddy blush, but Myrddin seemingly ignored Edgar's words to sigh and deflate with relief, "Oh… Good. That's… good. I'm sorry for doubting you, Dragon."
"Not Ciara?" Edgar quirked a questioning eyebrow on Ciara's behalf. "You know, for a Mage, you're surprisingly unreasonable. And paranoid."
"I prefer to think of it as me taking every proper precaution," Myrddin waved dismissively.
"And rude," Edgar added bluntly. "Most mages I've met are much more open-minded, if only so they might learn more about everything they can."
Myrddin chuckled in a way that made him sound wiser and more in control than he was, "I suppose I'm simply unique, even among wizards."
"Perhaps it has something to do with your strangely specific specialization…?" Edgar considered, half mumbling to himself. "A mage of space and space alone? Versatile, sure, but it's also such an advanced discipline to start with and limit yourself to. Because of it, you're putting much more effort than is necessary into spells that should be simple."
"This is the most I've ever seen someone indulge him…" Revel grumbled. "You know he's not actually magic, right? He's a parahuman like the rest of us. He just likes to play those games of his."
"He's actually impressively close to real magic," Edgar said, waving without a care to the bombshell he dropped. "Brushing right up against it. Or, I suppose, his Shard is. Eve? Take notes, darling. This one is doing something right. Perhaps you can take it the rest of the way."
"Pbbbt~ Ababuwabu~," Eve dutifully nodded and babbled.
"Huh," Dragon quirked her head. "Neat."
Ciara couldn't help but agree, even as she also somewhat resented that Myrddin and his Shard were the ones to brush up against magic. There was a moment of silence before Earth Bet experienced something never before seen. For the first time… Myrddin was made to break character.
"Wait, what the fuuuuuck-?! I-! Shard-! Real magic?! Why the Hell are you humoring him, Dragon?! You've never humored me! And Goddammit, I thought I could ignore it, but what the shit is up with the crystal baby?!"
Myrddin had to take a deep breath to fortify himself by the end of his uncharacteristic outburst. And still, the only answers it earned were unimpressed stares from Ciara, Edgar, and Fortuna, a baffled one from Revel, and a taunt turned raspberry from Eve.
"Nanana boo~pbbbbbt~!"
IIIII
[AN: I've started supplementing the usual CG rolls with rolls from Gothicjedi666's version. They're, uh, a bit more consistently potent… I don't think I'll be using them every time but here and there, I'll give his version a spin and see what comes out. Having done so this time, I couldn't (read: didn't want to) pass up on either the Triforce of Courage or the Denarian's Coin. The first is just one of my favorite powers and the second… well, I already have something of a plan for what I'll be doing with it once it's purchased. That plan shouldn't take too long to come into effect once the story reaches Brockton Bay (likely next chapter).]