A tall man with dark violet hair and coiling snakes around his neck walked towards a woman shorter than him. Her hair raven black, similar to her own attire with her lips coated with the very same color...is she cosplaying a black lady? We do not know. Although she looked less elderly than the age prescribed to her the man gave nothing to pay his respects and from the looks of his face her eyes showed a little glint of amusement.
"How much longer Amara! It's been years...many predecessors have long passed, our Lord is getting impatient" The man grits his teeth at the woman in question. Amara Darhone, former princess and traitor of Samaari, sister to Themaline and Izstahra Darhone ony smirked, "Patience is all I need Crocus, for all these years I've been working hard for the Arc and yet you're still blind to my attempts."She faked her tears, but encircled him like a stalking predator, "Life is one big stage can you not see it? But don't worry, the grand finale will become more beautiful than what you have in mind" She smiled wickedly. In front of her, Crocus Veltour, is the Aureole Arch Lady's twin brother, sneered at her response.
"How do you intend to take this 'stage' to the finale...are you quite certain that your niece will not be the end of your grandiose plan?"Amara faced him proudly with a smug smile, "I'm ten steps ahead of them..I have sent my daughter to-"
"Your 'daughter'? What has transpired that one started calling her yours?" an otherworldly voice brought chill into the room. Any lesser being before her would crumble under reverence for her presence exudes charm and intimidation. Amara raised one of her eyebrows at the newcomer, plainly addressing her overwhelming presence.
"Ah..Yoreno, just in time" Crocus glanced towards the demon's direction, Amara saw this gesture and sneered, she narrowed her eyes over the look these two are having.
"Thought I'd never see you get out of your preposterous looking castle"
"Watch your tongue" Yoreno replied, her demeanor calm and composed, "I arrived here to have a little chat but it seems I am not wanted" She scoffed and turned to her heels.
"Instead of sulking there like a fool why don't you go to Esgarde and spread a little blight?" The black haired woman suggests with a thin smile on her lips, her tone laced with authority as she rightfully commands. Yoreno, who was addressed, stopped and gave a little nod, she raised her head and turned it 180 degrees as if it was a mere embellishment of her body.
"I do need the energy Amara, how kind of an old fossil...how about a little wager before I go?" Her tilted head gave a cheshire smile.
"If your daughter encounters the joker and win, you'll lose but if she fails, I win"
"How dare you eavesdrop in our conver-" Knowing that asking is futile, she reinforced it with another question, "What will you get from this.."Amara narrowed her eyes as Yoreno chuckled.
"I've been wanting to get a taste of that arcane blood of yours as you on mine...how about we put that stake yes?"
"Deal" Yoreno's head laughed darkly—a combination of amusement and eagerness. It echoed the empty wall of the fortress as she fixed it back to her head and walked off the exit.
"Amuse me then" The remnants of her voice echoed as she dissolved in the shadow of her person.
"Now where is Ashlarrmi...I need something done " Crocus hid a disdainful look as the woman in black turned into a flock of crows that flew off, leaving him alone in the room.
"That woman, something tells me she needs to know her place" A rattling sound soon followed as his snakes fussed around him.
//////
"Hey princess, why am I coming too?" Kale gave a quizzical look as Linthea dragged him off the couch, his wing flailing to get him out of her hold but to no avail.
'How did this woman get so strong?'
"You're coming with Soren to Strandethorn....you have something they need to preserve" She drops him off on the foot of the staircase.
She could see how pale his face went.
"Do I get a vote in this?"
"No"
Sure, Strandethorn is a little..no, lot scarier but Queen Miroslava will heed as per the Arch Lady requested. She did hear that the political feud for the throne hasn't died down together with the blood sucker's issue the Queen tried to contain but they'll be fine as delegates of the Aureole.
"Soren?" She called for her brother, "Be careful out there...I heard something about night hunters roaming around" She added when no response was heard.
"Hey, where's mine?"Kale complained over the balcony.
"You can handle yourself just fine now piss off" it was followed with an "aww"
Soren finally came out of his room with a travel bag as if he were to spend the whole summer in the country.
"Don't worry Lin, I'll give my regards to the prince and princess." He said with an airy voice as he descended the stairs as if there's a telepathic understanding between their silence.
"You're leaving the house?" Xuiying piped up from the kitchen, eyeing his bag.
"No, but who knows what awaits us there—Wait a minute! I'm not going on a vacation!"
"Ha! Got you~"Xuiying smiled cheekily.
"You're leaving the house too! What does that got to do with me?"Her elder brother accused as the young girl giggled, their sister frowned and crossed hands to her chest.
"How are you all going out but not me?!" She complained, exasperatedly throwing her hands to the air. Kale looked at them and shook his head.
The stone he kept was arranged to have the Ivanovich family take care of it which was exactly what his Ladyship wants to happen. It houses a great power—able to fulfill many possibilities that came from the Eidolon (Goddess) of Peace. Miroslava greatly adheres to the divine thus will open the cold heart of her country to protect the stone. If she follows not, then Princess Izavaellia will.
The war between the Aureole and the Dark Arc is also caused by their will to keep the relic for their own agendas. The Arc follows their masters obscured in the shadows to cleanse the world which is why this archaic trace means to be passed country to country for safe keeping every 6 months. Now that the opposing faction nearly has their hands on it, it's time for small changes.
"It won't be that bad Jiejie" Xuiying tried to pat her head but failed miserably and hugged Snowbelle's neck instead.
"Who knows,...maybe you'll get the best mission yet" Soren assured her with a smile and went back to his things on the sofa.
"Are you done Kale?" He called out for his companion who flew down with a luggage of his own; not that it was big since he never really owned extra clothes in his stay and had to buy a few or borrow from Soren. The winged man flew down the series of steps as if it was an arduous task to do. Well, given that he's using his magic to keep those prominent features of his...obscured, he definitely needs the leeway.
"We'll be off you two" Soren bid with a silvery voice. He took his bag and waved goodbye to his sisters, "Be careful on your own journeys...May Haina grant peace to our travels"
Linthea and Xuiying gave their collective farewells as the two men exited the house. Xuiying saw her sister's change of demeanor and sighed.
"I'll be going too" she gave her sister a hug,"Don't get too dejected Jiejie—I just know it that you'll have a mission you'll enjoy" Xuiying snuggled close as Linthea hugged her tight.
"Be safe Xuiying... remember what we taught you"
"Mm! I will"
Soon they will all be in their separate ways and she hopes to embrace the change with serenity.
--------
With Xuiying
"Master!" Adrianna turned to see her wayward apprentice run towards her. The woman broke a smile as she greeted her with a light pat on her head.
"You're awfully early child" Her hand felt cool to the touch as they walked towards the train station.
"Where are we going master?" Xuiying asked her with an innocent mirth in her eyes, her smile never fading as if this was her first trip around the world.
Her older companion could only hide the urge to pinch the young one's cheek. Perhaps the Arch Lady was right to pick her as the apprentice, their attitudes and personality clashes from time to time but they think as one. Her smile drives away the glacier off her heart and reminds her about the good in people.
"It's somewhere you've never been!" She whispered as they entered their cab. Xuiying's face perked up and excitedly clasp her hands together, turning to her master with a gleeful smile
"Is it Kayunta where we'll be going?" How perceptive.
"Sit child, and don't fall asleep lest you want to miss the scenery" Adrianna urged her to contain her excitement by using the window as a distractor. If there's one thing Adrianna picked from her student, it's her love for sceneries that the woman soon grew fond of looking out the window.
"Miss Hae-Woon!" She heard Xuiying exclaimed. Her attention shifted to the woman with hair akin to a cotton candy and a turquoise hat adorned with ocean-like ornaments. She narrowed her eyes to see this Hae-Woon carrying a bundle in her arms.
Hae-Woon promptly gave the two a small wave of her hand as she took the seat across them. Xuiying, giddy in her seat, looked at her master with puppy eyes—Adrianna pinched her nose and gave her space to walk through.
"Where are you going, Miss Woon?" Xuiying was instantly next to the woman on the other side. Hae-Woon smiled as the young girl coed over her baby with the child responding gibberish to greet her.
"I'm glad to meet you again Miss Xuiying...I must apologise that I disappeared in a hurry last time—it was... uncouth of me" Xuiying tilts her head to remember but smiled back nonetheless.
"It's fine, I'm sure you have other matters to attend to" Hae-Woon noticed her gaze on her child's sleeping form and thought to introduce her as a sign of goodwill.
"This is my son, Ren Yun-Seo" She moved a little to give Xuiying a view of her son. The girl smiled softly and whispered her name to the young child's ear, in which she giggled afterwards.
"We'll be going to Strandethorn to answer your previous question..." Xuiying tilts her head again in question and Hae-Woon felt a little anxious to reply.
"I- ...There was a gig I was invited to and...I could use a little money" She breaths out. The young girl in front of her formed an "ohh" sound.
"The train will now disembark!" The conductor behind them bellows as sounds of machines whirring alive can be heard.
"I see...take care Miss Hae-Woon! May we meet again" Xuiying gave her a grin and returned to her master's side who gave her a few words she cannot hear.
Hae-Woon sighed in relief knowing she'll be finally out of the country again.
-----
"What the hell do they need us for? It's just a kidnapping case?" Linthea grumbled over her seat while her mission partner: Calyx shook his head at her undermining comment and pushed a few buttons on the control panel.
"It's not just a kidnapping case-Why must you fuss over this?" The newly joined Hisako Nobutaka followed their movements as she clutched her book close to her chest.
The young girl, after her academic expedition with her master who's the illustrious Seraphim Lein Hrezvegt has finally came to a close and returned to Icycilis to continue their servitude to the alliance was plucked from her short reunion with her dear older sister Shigemi and forced to listen to a never ending banter between her seniors.
Hisako saw them still arguing but shifted her gaze towards the radiant golden forests of Coronas, closing her olfactory senses to give Mother Nature the attention she deserves.
Coronas, a country of vintage castles, stone built houses, and vast resplendent natural scenery established over elevated stony mountains. One such as herself dare say that the color gold is the trademark hue of an archaic country who's path slightly crossed with the advanced technology spreading across the continent signifying they highly cling to their roots.
"Why am I always your mission partner huh?" She heard Linthea retorts with a smile—their entire conversation completely slipped her mind.
"We could use your deductive mind 'Miss' Seiju" von Vyrien replied and flicked her forehead, the woman withdrew from the pain. Hisako never missed that kind of look... they're both weird.
"I just don't understand why we are handling this case? What of their Fuego Eternum? The policemen? Does that prove their government system is incapable enough to handle such predicaments that they depend on another faction to aid them?"
'Ohh she's got a point' Hisako mused. This case can still be accounted as their duties but it might be a little uncalled for.... something is amiss.
"It doesn't constrict us to extend our help towards them. We are part of this faction because we adhere to the code of conduct which is to help others in whatever case they have." Linthea looked at him still wearing a thin smile on her lips.
"My point still stands" He grits his teeth and closed his eyes for a brief moment
"Then would you like a bet?" As much as Calyx tries to deny, his interactions with Lady Maxianne led him to be a gambler of his own.
"Fine~ what are your conditions?" The woman crossed her legs whilst staring at him with a smug look.
"If you win, I will not be your mission partner anymore but if I win–" He paused with consideration to their other member, "This will be your team which I will tell Lady Veltour" Calyx extends his hand for a deal
Linthea eyed him before shaking his hand, "If I knew you know about how this mission will go I won't hesitate to kill you"
"Trust me, we're all clueless here" He snides, "With Miss Hisako as our witness, you will not be able to deny the outcome of our gamble...is it okay Miss Hisako?" The young girl who was slightly eavesdropping on their conversation snapped her head back at them with a horrified expression.
"Y-yes that'll be fine" She stammered but regained her calm composure. Calyx went back to his seat in the cockpit while Linthea left him to sit next to Hisako at the back. The young woman with mulberry hair clutched her attire's cape closer.
"Those wolves seem to be pretty busy with their prey" She heard the dark brown haired woman comment and shifted her gaze outside the flying automobile before they passed a stone bridge connecting to the entrance of the city. Her senior, Linthea absentmindedly admired the sprawling elevated view where she straightened her body to gaze down the canyon where a fountain sourced all the waters flowing down the river. The woman looked back to Hisako when she paled at the sight of the young woman in front of her.
Wolf packs were not common in Coronas only mountain goats and lynxes as far as young Hisako can remember and saw them digging into something of a fresh flesh—her breathing hastened as flashbacks of her own re-emerged.
"Hey! Hisako?" The timid girl was jolted awake from an episodic moment of hers as she stared back to the orbs that seemingly encapsulated a bright blue sky with her own dead ones. Linthea lost her signature smile as if it was a mask who fell off her face from a hurry, seeing her master's sister with a terrified look after she pointed to those wolves was enough to bring up a similar fear of her own.
Why did this girl look like she saw something sinister? Nor her eyes are as cold and dead as those ghouls they set free in Tiolas? Linthea apologized with a pat on the young girl's head, her smile made its way to her face, "Don't worry Hisako....No one can hurt you now, I will-we will protect you" She gave her a reassuring smile and finally grasped the trembling hand Hisako was dying to conceal.
And it stilled—calm down as its person nods slightly with small tears in her eyes.
"I-I'm sorry for ruining the mood M-miss Seiju" Hisako held her book close and bowed her head, her face flushed from causing a slight disturbance between the two of them and blamed herself repeatedly for ruining her first impression.
Hisako Nobutaka's coming back to Icycilis was a sign she was ready to take on the matters she previously left to train with her master. Seraphim taught her well together with her sister who wrote countless letters and welcomed her with tears bid her well on her own...she mustn't let those two people important to her down with silly representations of the past.
"It's alright darling.... don't apologise for something you are not the cause" Hisako heard her say, "Just call me Thea"
"Y-yes...Miss Thea I'm s- .." The girl shook her head from making another mistake.
"That's good...come on, we're nearly here" She was given a smile by her senior and Hisako hoped it was real this time.
-----
Calyx heard their murmurs at the back but stayed in his seat to think about the day before.
He was thankful Kale managed to hold his end of the bargain: To not bring up the events to Linthea as soon as she woke up and from the looks of it, she did not have any recollections as that winged retainer told them.
The young man turned to look at what the girls were doing and instead captured a smile rarely shown to him. Linthea's original team were supposed to be Amanda and Gabriel while he was supposed to join with Soren as both were near the levels of a master but given certain circumstances he carefully threaded, the teams were scrambled once again.
Some time before
The Archlady stifled a laugh upon hearing his proposal, "I suppose Soren can take on another partner to teach instead of you.." She rearranged the papers in her desk while he gave her a bow, "Thank you for your reconsideration Madam Archlady...I will be going now"
"A moment young von Vyrien"
A knock was heard from the gigantic door before it was opened to reveal a man with amber hair and a blindfold over his eyes. He carried a majestic aura as he strides inside before kneeling in front of Lady Velaria.
"We have arrived, my lady...let me introduce to you my apprentice, Hisako Nobutaka" Seraphim paid no mind to Calyx's presence as he called on a young girl behind the doors. A timid young lady who carries a weak smile with eyebags beneath her eyes and a book close to her chest. She flinched to see him but stepped forward with a nervous look, following her master in greetings to the Archlady.
The veiled woman of hair that of an amethyst's color soon nods at him which he took it to leave the room.
//////
Trivia:Magic Weapon Users
All living beings have a certain essence, just that it's either dormant, active or small in counts thus can't be useful for anything. Magic weapon users who unlock their potential instead of being born with it usually shows an orange coloured tattoo and strong fever and hallucination before or after acquisition. While inborn magic weapon users are tested as soon as they're born. They are enrolled in Icycillis and undergoes tough and harsh trainings, only few individuals get to be Shijos as most in their set perished, gave up or consumed by evil.