Since I wasn't on duty for the Power Brigade, walking around in my uniform was generally discouraged. While I might end up fighting so cri, it was quite easy to rapidly reveal my stuff. It was rely invisible, after all. I wondered what sort of compromises Francois had to make for such things, or if necessity had simply provided inspiration. It seed to be a common feature for our outfits now. I barely even noticed I had extra layers on, too. Comfort was sothing Francois had focused on from the start- along with effectively acting as armor, of course.
Midnight was with , his own Celmothian suit similarly hidden- though through different ans, I imagined. Francoic was a super tech focused on clothing whereas Midnight's Celmothian combat suit was all based on real technology. Highly advanced adaptive material that Earth's standard technology was a century behind. My old world simply would never have been on that track at all. Especially since it didn't seem to be going anywhere.
"I think this circle thing is going to do stuff soon," I comnted to Midnight. "I figure we can catch it active and pick up so proper world resonance. If it tries to snatch more people, maybe we can anchor them."
Midnight nodded seriously. "That might be good. If you think it's likely to beco active again soon, should we get Extra out here?"
I shrugged. "I guess. They'll probably make a whole big deal out of it, but I suppose that's the point. Let's see if we can get a better approximate once we spot it."
We began in the location where it had been wandering around yesterday. Because it hadn't actively done anything, I had to use Arcane Sight to pick out any signs of a trail. The magic circle thing sort of wriggled around outside of the physical plane, and it didn't feel particularly potent when inactive.
Fortunately, it didn't move fast. I wondered if it could even connect to anywhere that wasn't New Bay, given the local state of things. Weak barriers, high mana, excessive probability extres… the sorts of things that made a powered city instead of just a city. Supernatural happenings were just more comfortable here.
It took us about half an hour to catch up. That was actually quite a bit compared to before. "It's sprightly," I comnted.
"Indeed," Midnight agreed. "Even I can tell it's increasing in power."
"I'll ask for the nearest support."
-----
I was quite certain that Extra had far more agents than I ca into contact with during my frequent interactions. For the most part, however, I tended to interact with the sa few people. Zorphax and Malaliel had been the first to interact with , and never seed particularly displeased with my quirks. They usually didn't do as much field work, though.
That was probably how I ended up with Inasyah. The werewolf angel had fought alongside before, so I was not displeased that she was chosen. That said, it was a little bit…
"I think we're scaring people away," I comnted. I knew people tended to be nervous around , even if people tried to pretend that wasn't the case. Only people that didn't know , but people were naturally wary of aliens. Which I was, more or less.
"That does seem to be the case," she comnted. "I will return in a mont."
We conveniently happened to be in a park. She wandered off into a bathroom… and soone that felt a lot like her returned.
"Huh," I said. "I didn't know you could do that."
She looked more or less like a human. Mid tone skin. Brown hair. No wings. More relevantly, her Extra uniform had been replaced by street clothes. At least, it appeared to be. I wouldn't actually be able to tell, because Power Brigade usually opted for high tech vests and the like. Not super tech, so it rarely felt like anything to .
"It is perfectly reasonable for us to be able to do this," Inasyah comnted. "After all, how else are we to infiltrate societies?"
"... Is that a thing angels are supposed to do?"
Inasyah just shook her head. It wasn't actually a no, but perhaps more that she didn't want to talk about it.
She was from one of the brands that could lie. Though that was just like any normal person, so it wasn't really sothing to bother with. It just ant certain assumptions were wrong.
"Lucky thing it's in a park, huh?" Midnight asked. "It hasn't wandered into any private property or anything."
We kept our words rather vague as we followed the magic circle. Inasyah was simply following our lead, because she had only just begun to be able to sense it as it continued to grow in power.
People passed over it all the ti. It really wouldn't have been possible to stop that, as it crossed over streets full of cars and the like. Yelling at people to avoid sothing they couldn't see wasn't a great thod of getting them to actually do anything.
We continued to monitor the situation. I was quite certain sothing was going to happen soon. The power had hit a peak so ti before. However, group after group had passed by and there was no trouble. Maybe I grew a little bit relaxed. Either way, I wasn't ready when a group of teens passed by.
The 'circle' began to wriggle, stretching out underneath them. But also, so of it seed to lunge towards us. Not everyone in the group seed to be within the area, but I would have tried to protect them all anyway.
Before I could even think of Dinsional Anchor or Multicasting, however, the circle beca real, and a blinding light rose up from it, surrounding us. I suddenly felt unable to move or mobilize mana. There was a familiar sensation and then… I was under a starry sky.
So people were saying sothing. A new language that I'd barely encountered hit my ears. There was a man in robes- so sort of magicy guy- talking to a woman. She had so amount of power too. Maybe druidic? It didn't quite feel right. Not a class, then. Probably.
There were a number of others standing around with varying levels of power. Clearly, this place had mana and they could use it- but nothing else felt right. I was so focused on trying to pick out their words that I almost missed them casting so sort of big spell on all of us.
I reflexively resisted. I didn't like unknown magic, and I hadn't had ti to learn any of this. It was wrestling with so magic in my head, and I was tempted to throw more magic at it. However, with so many people watching I wasn't sure it was a good idea to act unpredictably.
The teens were freaking out. "What's happening?" one girl cried out. The other three that ended up around us weren't any more calm.
The important looking woman yelled sothing. They cald down. Midnight was just about as confused with - and similarly struggling with sothing. I could feel the Translation spell in my head trying to win a war while also translating what I heard.
It took a while for it to lock in, but with my guidance it began to eat the mana from the other spell. While the one they cast was pretty big, it wasn't very good. Enduring, maybe? But not strongly reactive. Rather than fighting, it had just plopped itself in and filled up the area, doing little more beyond that.
"... I trust that explanation will suffice," the woman finished.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
No. No it would not. Co on lady, say it again!
"Summoned heroes?" one of the boys comnted. "But none of us are actual heroes!" he looked around, seeing two strangers. "Right?"
"Right," I nodded. Good job with your exposition, kid. He was probably older than Jero, but he was still a kid. He was certainly weaker, magically.
The man held up an orb. "The princess has declared that your potential must be checked so that we can set you on the right path."
The woman next to him nodded once. So she was the princess, then?
They were way too hyped up. She wasn't so world devastating beauty or anything, just carrying far too much fancy jewelry and expensive clothing. I was still not familiar with every sort of enchantnt, but I had the general feeling her stuff would barely even take a hit. Francois would have words with her designers, if he ever got the chance.
"Co forth!" the man said. "Declare your na and be tested."
One of the girls stepped up. "G-Graciana," she said, placing her hand on the orb. At least she had the right instincts for that… probably.
I wondered if the na was important. I paid very close attention, but I really only felt Divination magic. There was so text I couldn't read displayed in the orb. "Advanced alchemical affinity," the man declared, almost bored. "Acceptable."
Wow, they just yanked a bunch of people through to their world and they were going to be judgy about it? If people were arranged differently, I might think they were asking for a teor Swarm. And if it wouldn't break the whole structure we were standing on. So sort of tower? The peak of a castle, maybe?
Next was Mile. Apparently, he had advanced spatial affinity. Raman had so sort of affinity for javelins, which was… sure less magical sounding. Though not really much different from Ayat's affinity for the rapier. She didn't seem pleased about that, though. Knowing little more than her na and her surface level appearance, I couldn't say why. Maybe she just wanted magic.
Next was , it seed. Inasyah hesitated slightly, so I approached. The guy only briefly glanced at Midnight on my shoulder, then held out the orb to .
If it tried to do anything unpleasant I was going to smash it. I could grab this guy's wrist and toss him into the princess. Maybe take them both off the tower. Midnight could feel my readiness and would be ready to cover my back. His tail told so as he turned on my shoulder.
"Turlough," I said.
The orb was a little bit tingly. Honestly, it wasn't that strong. Just so divination type stuff, but it didn't delve very deep.
"Advanced spatial affinity as well," he said, looking disappointed. "But you are so much older… and clearly not the correct type."
Nobody would have faulted for punching him in the face, would they? But I was already resolved to be peaceful and calm. I couldn't help but reveal so displeasure, but that was still a restrained reaction.
What a jerk. He was like twice my age. Just because I wasn't a kid he acted like I couldn't learn.
No wait, I was already a fully realized mage. What did potential even an in that context? Did he just misread Advanced Spatial Mastery? Where was the rest?
I wasn't going to ask. Inasyah looked quite more relaxed as she approached.
"Edel," she said flatly.
She laid her hand on the orb. Mr. magic tester read off her result. "Advanced dark magic affinity." He didn't seem to be concerned about that. In fact, he looked bored. "How disappointing, to not have any superior talents among your ranks."
Midnight licked the side of his paw. It was the sort of thing he did when pretending to be a normal cat. I was pretty sure he was physiologically capable of achieving similar results, but they did just have real hygiene options so it wasn't sothing Celmothians usually did.
I felt a tiny bit of magic. Mr. magic tester was still holding the orb, not really paying attention. I read the results- Translation was in full swing, and clearly at least a handful of these people knew how to read the local language.
Basic energy talent. And he had the gall to complain about us?
I kept my head relatively still, but I focused on the structure around us. How had they managed to pull in six people? Maybe the orb just didn't work at all, but assuming it was correct this guy wasn't good enough for this task.
Oh, and Midnight and I obviously counted as just one. So I wasn't giving them credit for seven.
"Training will begin tomorrow morning," the man with poor potential comnted. "Kadresh will see you to your chambers. He will et you down the stairs."
Inasyah and I were getting a lot of nervous glances from the teens. "Things will be fine," I said. Normally, that would be a lie. They did relax slightly regardless.
The princess was already scurrying ahead, and she glanced back for a mont, a suspicious look on her face. What was wrong with reassuring so kids?
Apparently not much, as she continued to stomp off a mont later. I still pondered it. Ah, I'd spoken English. I probably wasn't supposed to be able to do that right now.
We walked down uneven stone stairs where we were t by a tall, thin man who bowed stiffly and not terribly sincerely. "Greetings. I am Majordomo Kadresh. I will be escorting the summoned heroes to your chambers."
We passed by many large doors. Fancy hallways with tapestries everywhere. Suits of armor. Knights. Fancy archways with gold decorated rooms. Servant quarters. Guard barracks. And then… our place.
A small square room with three rooms branching off of it. The entire limited space was taken up by a dining room table, or at least I would have called it that. "There are three rooms. You may make your own arrangents."
Then the minordomo left.
"Wow," I said. "What an asshole." The door was barely closed.
"We have to share?" one of the boys complained. … Ran?
"We're sharing," said Lana or whatever, grabbing the other girl. The alchemical affinity.
"But wait…" said the other guy. ter or sothing. "Doesn't that an those two…?"
"We're adults," I said.
"And we wouldn't do anything suspicious with a cat watching," she comnted.
So we were going with cat? I was wondering if this was ti to explain why we were here, but apparently not.
"Hopefully the rooms are nicer," Ayat comnted. "This is pretty poor treatnt for heroes."
They were not. Bunks with thin mattresses, small standing closets, and tiny windows. The whole thing was more like a closet, really.
… I could make better. I had made better, even with my first casting of Shelter.
People picked out their rooms. The teens, I an. We just got the last room. The dirtiest one. I was going to have to actually cast Clean. Seriously, were there bed bugs?
"I guess… we go to sleep?" Lana asked.
Nobody stated the obvious, so… "It's like two o' clock," I pointed out. "In the afternoon. I don't think these summoners know about ti zones."
"So what do we do?" Ran asked. "They have guards out in the hall. I get the feeling we're not welco to leave."
"Strategy," I said. "Also, isn't everyone excited to get powers? Because that's what it sounds like."
I would have been excited. I think random teens would too. If not for the whole abduction thing.
"What's the point?!" Ran asked. "We're stuck here forever!"
"Didn't you have spatial magic affinity?" Ayat pointed out. "Maybe you can teleport us back…?"
He made a face. I think he was trying to do magic. He had no idea what he was doing, though. "It doesn't work."
Wow. After just that?
"If he can't do it, I'll figure it out," I said. "But they did ntion they were going to teach us tomorrow."
"Can it, old man!" Ran said. "You think I can't do it?"
He stepped up on , then shoved. He was the one that fell backwards, falling over the table.
"I'm twenty-six," I said. The other three still gave looks that indicated that was old. "Why don't we all sit down and have a proper chat? It doesn't seem like our hosts are going to be particularly forthcoming at the mont."
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