Chapter 35: Magical Girl
I shook her hand, her armored grip surprisingly gentle.
Its nice to et you, I murmured nervously, not knowing how to really respond.
Sergeant Kelley didnt seem to notice my anxiety, simply turning to Everglaive with her hands back on her hip.
So, I think I get why youre here. Theres a nice low risk Usurpation for her to cut her teeth on, and it should give Moon Bunny here so good experience and points, yeah? The only thing I cant figure out is why you asked
here. I an, yeah, Im good, but Im sure youre more than capable of helping her yourselves. Seems kind of overkill to bring
out, not that Im complaining about getting to hang with you or anything.
Everglaive gave a placid smile, simply gesturing to the Usurpation.
Lets talk about the specifics inside. I have Error Machina ready to put a privacy shell around the Usurpation so we can speak in peace.
The Warden raised an eyebrow, but sothing like mischief twinkled in her ruby eyes.
Oh? A secret mission? You should have led with that. Lets be on it, then.
She twirled on her foot and strode towards the distorted air without hesitation, humming happily as Everglaive followed. Naiads face had finally turned back to a more normal color, and she muttered sothing under her breath as she hurried to catch up.
I glanced at Selene, who simply shrugged with her tails.
[Magical Girls do not have a monopoly on unique personalities, I suppose.]
A surprised, amused huff escaped through my nose, and I shook my head before going after them.
I was hesitant as we approached, and watched with interest as Sergeant Kelley reached the bubble and kept going. The air rippled as she went inside, the effect similar to watching sothing fall into a still pond.
Everglaive and Naiad entered in the sa manner, Naiad briefly stopping to give
a comforting smile. As I reached the distortion, I found myself holding my breath as I forced myself to keep walking.
A mont later, I stepped into the Usurpation.
Instantly, the faintest sense of wrongness tickled over my skin, like a sumr breeze that had sohow been corrupted. The feeling quickly disappeared, but it left
feeling anxious.
[You can sense the miasma better in your Astral Shift,] Selene whispered in my mind, the explanation helping to soothe my nerves.
Now that I was inside the Usurpation, I had a better look at the structure contained within. It had the sa modern, clean architecture common in most of Arcadias buildings. The building was long, covering a fair bit of ground with a big entrance and sign that I quickly read over.
adows Track and Field Center.
The size of the building suddenly made more sense.
Alright, Sergeant Kelley clapped her hands, turning so she was halfway looking at us while still keeping an eye on the building. So whats the big secret, then?
Everglaive hand went to her ear, head tilting slightly.
Error? Were inside. The privacy shell, if you please.
I felt a slight prickle against my skin, and turned to notice the distorted view of the world beyond the Usurpation becoming even more prismatic. In a few short breaths, the view beca perfectly opaque, as if I was looking at an unreflective wall of glass.
Turning back to Everglaive with a frown, she gave
a nod.
Apologies. I ant to talk with you about this beforehand, but it was an idea I only recently ca up with. Guin, I assu youre aware of so of the colorful rumors around Dark Magical Girls?
She snorted, folding her arms and rolling her eyes.
Sure. Hard to work with you lot and not catch a word or two. Think its a load of bull, personally. Ive worked with plenty of Darks before, and honestly, we tend to get along better with em than any other color except maybe Blues. Im of the personal opinion that those rumors are mostly just jealousy.
Youre not entirely wrong, Everglaive nodded. And that brings
to the purpose of our privacy shell. Moon Bunny here is a special case, even among Darks, and Im hoping to get her as much training as possible while keeping her exact abilities hidden. I believe this will give her an edge. While I hope she doesnt need it, having an extra ace up her sleeve certainly wouldnt hurt.
Makes sense, she nodded. Though it doesnt explain my purpose here.
Everglaive smiled, turning to
and waving her hand at the ground. Erald light flashed, and my backpack materialized onto the grass.
Would you like to show Guin your chosen weapon, Moon Bunny?
I nodded nervously, and Sergeant Kelley watched
with interest as I crouched down to open my backpack. Reaching in, I very carefully removed my Umbra, making sure to keep it pointed at the ground even if it was unloaded with the slide locked back.
A Magical Girl focusing on using guns? Sergeant Kelly asked, voice filled with glee. Oh. Oh yes. Glaivy, I see where youre going with this, and yes, I accept a thousand tis over. This is sothing I have to see.
I thought you might be interested, Everglaive sniffed with a haughty expression, looking at her nails. You do have a reputation, after all.
Oh co off it, elf, the Warden waved a hand at her, eying my Umbra with interest. So I assu you were thinking I could teach her a thing or two about guns, then?
More or less. Moon Bunny will be attending the Magical Girl Academy, and part of the curriculum is weapons training. I was hoping you would be willing to give her a few pointers right now and possibly help
find an instructor to fill her weapons training class. Im sure the Academy would have contacts, but Id rather she gets the best while keeping it under the radar.
Sergeant Kelley humd thoughtfully, and I found myself frowning.
Is it really that useful to hide the fact Im using guns? I asked nervously. Just Wont it be obvious pretty quickly? I dont really know how Im supposed to hide it
Naiad and Everglaive glanced at each other, and Naiad sighed, nodding almost hesitantly. Everglaive turned back to .
You are correct, it will be difficult to keep it a secret, but you wouldnt have to hide it for long. You see, there is sothing of a tradition among Magical Girls, that should there be an argunt or conflict between two Guardians, one can challenge the other to a duel.
I felt my eyes widen, but Naiad quickly put up her hands in a placating gesture.
Its not as bad as it sounds! The duels are held in a special arena, and the fight is only until ones Aura is depleted. The arena itself is heavily enchanted to detect anything that might seriously injure a Guardian, and can place a shield around anybody in danger in milliseconds. In the twenty-one years of Magical Girl duels, there hasnt been a single death.
Its very safe, Everglaive agreed. There are also various rules and regulations about who can challenge who, but thats besides the point. The duels themselves can also be refused. No Magical Girl is obligated to accept a challenge, although refusing a challenge when sobody has a legitimate complaint can have social consequences.
I frowned, eyes flicking between the two in confusion.
Um I dont understand. I dont plan on causing trouble with anybody, and people are already not going to like
just for being a Dark, so Why does it matter?
It mostly doesnt, Everglaive admitted. However, one of the things that can be done in a duel is making a wager. Usually, its points, though only a limited amount can be gained or lost per month through duels. More importantly, there are other things that can be wagered.
Patrol zones, for instance, Naiad nodded. If two Guardians are arguing who gets dibs on a certain location if Usurpations show up, they can wager the area in a duel. Thats probably the second most common wager, but theres not really a limit to what can be put up for grabs. In your case, however
You could make a wager for people to leave you alone and have it be officially enforced, Everglaive sighed, glancing at Sergeant Kelley who was taking in the conversation with a carefully neutral expression. Newer Magical Girls who havent had a chance to actually work with a Dark yet are much more likely to fall for the rumors older Guardians pass along. That combined with the general angst and aggressiveness of teenagers who have suddenly gained magical fighting powers, and theres little to no doubt sobody will try to cause trouble with you. Hence, this ploy. Error already agreed to help, casting privacy shells over any Usurpation you fight in and using magic to clean up your battlefields until the truth cos out. If you can hide the fact you use firearms, youll be able to pull one out in your first duel, giving you a massive advantage over your opponent who will be misinford about your capabilities.
It would pretty much guarantee a win, especially with a Warden training you, and if you wait to accept a duel until its from sobody who is really bothering you Naiad shrugged. You could get the most bang for your buck. No pun intended.
There was a long silence that followed, the three of them watching
as I stared back.
I internally went over their explanation a few tis.
Sothing tied a knot around my heart and began to squeeze.
I couldnt breathe.
E-excuse , I managed to whisper, storing my gun in my backpack before turning around and taking several hurried steps away from them.
[Mai?] Selene asked with concern, but I ignored her as I closed my eyes.
Everglaive, a Magical Girl powerful enough to lead a strike team to co save
in the middle of a hoard of Anathema, called in a literal special forces operative and got Error Machina, another powerful Guardian, to agree to assist her in spending their valuable ti and points all so I could make sure the first person to really start harassing
would leave
alone.
My chest hurt.
Why?
It was hard to breathe.
Why go through all this trouble for ?
I blinked away the moisture in my eyes.
Why were they being so nice?
My hands squeezed into tight, impotent fists.
Was it pity? Was it because I was so useless? Was it that obvious?
I let out the breath in a quiet hiss of air.
Does it matter?
Slowly, I felt the not entirely unpleasant tightness in my chest loosen.
Ill find a way to pay them back. If nothing else, I can spend my points getting them gifts.
Nodding to myself, I tried to discreetly wipe at my eyes before I turned around and rejoined the group.
They seed to be talking to themselves about sothing, but stopped as I neared.
Sorry, I just
I trailed off, realizing I didnt have a way to explain how I was feeling without it being completely humiliating. My face began to heat up, a heavy blush forming on my face, but Naiad quickly stepped in.
Its alright! I know that having to go through all this cloak and dagger stuff is a little frustrating. I know Id be upset if I was in your shoes.
Even though that wasnt exactly the cause of my reaction, I gave the girl a thankful nod for the escape opportunity. Then, I lowered my head, giving the three of them an appreciative bow.
I really appreciate what youve done for
so far, and what you continue to do. I hope I can find a way to repay all of you for your help.
Moon Bunny Naiad hesitated, and Sergeant Kelley let out a laugh that had
looking up at her in surprise.
Oh, I dont think that will be too hard. In my case, all I want in exchange for so training is a promise that you'll invite
to the duels, especially the first. Just thinking about it now has
excited. Just imagine it: so bratty girl who thinks shes top of the world has been bothering you and finally gets you to accept a duel, and then Oh lord, just imagine the look on her face when you pull a gun on her and she realizes she brought a sword to a gunfight!
She cackled with an infectious glee, and I found a giggle escaping . Naiad chuckled herself while a Everglaives lips twitched with a small smile.
Okay, I told her, giving her a serious nod. I promise.
Oh, youre quickly becoming my favorite Magical Girl, Moon, she rubbed her hands together. Now then, how about we get started. We are technically in an Usurpation, even if it isnt that dangerous with us around. How about you show
that gun of yours, and we can start with so basics?
I nodded, once again retrieving my Umbra from the bag. I started to raise it to hand it to her but paused, a blush forming on my face.
I, um I dont really know the safest way to give this to you. Selene taught
the basics of gun safety and shooting, but
Sergeant Kelleys face sobered imdiately, and she gave
an impressed nod.
What you just did is one of the smartest things you could do, girl. Never be afraid to ask questions or admit you dont know sothing, especially with sothing as serious as handling a weapon.
A flash of scarlet light materialized a handgun into her hands.
Here, watch what I do. First, make sure the safety is set. Then take out the magazine, clear the chamber, and make sure the action is locked back like this. Then, hold the gun reversed and pointed down, hand gripped over the slide and receiver like this while making sure your fingers are wrapped over the trigger guard here. Then, you simply offer them the grip.
She moved slowly, making sure I could see every step of the process. When she finished, she quickly reloaded her gun and put it back into her dinsional storage.
I followed her instructions, and even though my Umbra was already empty, I went through the motions, and she nodded approvingly as she then took the gun from , inspecting it carefully.
The Umbra, huh? she said thoughtfully. Model A, mark one by the looks of it. Nine milliter? Youve got a solid starter gun right here. Its definitely one Id recomnd to a beginner. Very nice accuracy and it handles recoil much better than other nine mills. Its only real weakness is its low caliber is going to struggle against so of the bigger nasties. At low levels, it shouldnt be too much of a problem, though.
Is there sothing else you would recomnd? I asked, soaking in the information.
Mmm Im partial to forty calibers, myself. Good balance of stopping power with ammo capacity. Youll have more recoil than you would feel with a nine mill, but with so practice and your magical stats bullshit, I imagine youll adjust fairly quickly. If you like the Umbras design and feel, I know its made in both a forty and forty-five variant too, so the adjustnt wont be too big.
She waved a hand dismissively.
But all thats for later. Lets talk about so gun basics first. Safety, strategy, that sort of thing.
I listened as she went into a miniature lecture, though a lot of it was the basics Selene had drilled into . I still nodded along, not interrupting her as she gave so examples of bad gun handling and the consequences that could happen. After finishing the safety instructions and the most basic of shooting stances that she had
practice a few tis, she gave a thoughtful hum.
Theres plenty more to teach on tactics, teamwork, and all that, but I think most of that can be left for another ti. The last thing that you really need to know is collateral. When you point your gun and are about to shoot, you need to always know what will happen if you miss. Bullets can penetrate through a lot of objects, and while civilians should be evacuated when you enter an area, that might not always be the case. So, before you shoot, always know if your bullet is going to miss and hit a soft target that it could penetrate through, or a harder material that will stop it. If theres ever any doubt, its better to hold off and reposition.
Giving her a serious nod, she handed my Umbra back.
Like I said, it really shouldnt be a problem here in Arcadia. Theres enough shelters and warning ti before Usurpations that its exceedingly rare for civilians to get caught out, but it never hurts to be careful. You might not always be deploying in Arcadia, and you never know when a scared kid might be hiding in a cupboard or sothing.
I winced at that, the image of Brian cowering under the clothing rack flashing through my mind. She didnt comnt on it, simply looking at the other two.
That should cover the need-to-know. Ill admit, you lot can cheat a lot with your stat magics enhancing you, so Ill have to really think about training lessons and gun recomndations. Right now, though, I think that seeing her in action is going to give
the best idea where to begin.
Agreed, Everglaive smiled. Which is why Moon Bunny will be soloing this Usurpation with just her gun. We shall simply be observing.
Sergeant Kelley frowned.
Alone?
Yes. Moon Bunny has had so interesting experiences as a Magical Girl. It has, however, slightly skewed her view on certain things. Completing this Usurpation should give her a better idea of her actual capabilities. Speaking of which, there is one more thing Moon Bunny needs to learn.
Oh?
Guin, Everglaive said, motioning for Naiad to take a few steps back. Do you rember the test we did after trivia night at Macs? Moon Bunny needs a proper introduction to the strength of a Magical Girls shield.
Sergeant Kelley stared at her blankly for a mont.
Then a wide, malicious grin spread over her face.
Oh, do I rember? Are we doing the first or second one?
The second one, if you would. Moon Bunny, I urge you not to panic.
I watched in confusion as Sergeant Kelley stalked towards Everglaive who stood there passively, hands folded behind her back.
I dont think this will ever get old, the Warden gave a contented sigh.
Then scarlet light flashed, a handgun appearing in her hand that she promptly pointed directly at the side of Everglaives head.
From no more than an inch away, she fired.
A strangled scream escaped my lips that was aborted as Everglaive didnt so much as flinch, a green light flaring against her head. Everglaive simply smiled at
as Sergeant Kelley lowered the gun, storing it again with a laugh. She looked around for a mont before bending over and picking up a squished bullet, a wide grin on her face.
Lord, you Girls are such bullshit, she laughed. I love it.
I stared dumbfounded at them, my mind trying to process what Id just seen.
This is the power of your Aura, your shield, Everglaive stated. Like we told you, Its capable of absorbing most of the damage from hits, and if its strong enough, it can absorb the entirety of a blow. Your stats determine the strength of your Aura.
[Willpower determines your Auras overall capacity,] Selene added. [Vitality gives your Aura better defense against physical attacks, and Spirit does the sa but for magical damage. Please note that Vitality and Spirit do not provide nearly as much damage reduction to your shield as they do to your body. Spirit also determines how quickly your Aura regenerates. Aura regeneration is generally slow, taking sixteen minutes and forty seconds if your Willpower and Spirit are of equal value.]
Your Aura is also adaptive, Everglaive said. aning it knows how much your Vitality and Spirit will naturally resist and let the appropriate amount of damage through before draining your shield. For example, as a Guardian who focuses on Vitality and has over 900 in the stat, my physical defenses are quite high. As such, my Aura knows to let most of the damage bleed through the shield to be negated by my bodys enhanced resilience instead of burning itself up against an attack.
She reached up, pointing to the side of her head where I made out so fragnts of bullet that had smashed itself against her skin.
This is an example. I didnt even lose a single percentage point of my shield because a standard bullet doesnt pose much threat to , especially because Sergeant Kelley was using one of her weaker guns. If it was from a Zenith catalog of a higher rarity or fired by a Magical Girl, there would have been so actual danger involved.
Just rember, Naiad jumped in, looking at Everglaive with concern. Your shield cant always absorb all the damage. If an attack is strong enough or has so kind of piercing aspect, it can get through much easier.
My heart had finally slowed down from the display, and I found myself shaking my head.
You really werent exaggerating when you told
I wouldnt have lost my arm if I had my Aura back then, were you? I thought to Selene, hoping the bitterness didnt fully transfer over.
[No. Its part of the reason what happened is so upsetting.]
I swallowed, nodding.
I understand, I told them.
Excellent, Everglaive nodded. Then all that is left is for you to clear this Usurpation and test out your new abilities, including your physical capabilities. Based on what you told , your reaction ti, speed, jumping, and accuracy will be greatly improved, so make sure to study those limits carefully.
Um, Naiad said sheepishly. Do you know how to clear out an Usurpation?
Everglaive paused, looking at . I shook my head, and she looked slightly embarrassed.
Ah, yes. Well. Every Usurpation is ford by what we call a Miasma Seed, or Seed for short. At lower level Usurpations, its a stationary object that looks like a glowing, semi-crystalline flower. In higher level Usurpations, an Anathema will sotis absorb the Seed, increasing their abilities drastically. Destroying the Seed or the Seed Bearer will end an Usurpation.
Usually its a good idea to destroy as many other Anathema as possible before targeting the Seed, Naiad added. The seed will call all the remaining Anathema to it if its under attack. Dont worry too much if you end an Usurpation before defeating all the Anathema, though. Except in very rare cases, Anathema cant survive outside Usurpations, so they will either die or return to where they co from. You will be missing out on points and experience, though, so its best to try to get them all first.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded to them, and Everglaive smiled at .
Dont worry. This is the weakest of Usurpations, and Error Machina has assured
there wont be any Anathema over level ten. As for numbers, youll be looking at twenty to thirty Anathema. The three of us will be following you, but Im going to put up so invisibility spells with Naiads help to stop the Anathema from coming for us.
What if I accidentally shoot at you? I asked, worry in my voice, but Everglaive smiled.
Im a defensive Guardian. Ill have spells in place to protect us, but even without them, a few bullets at your level wouldnt be able to seriously hurt any of us, as our recent demonstration has proven.
I glanced at Sergeant Kelley, and she rely laughed, gesturing to her power armor.
Magical Soldiers are given Zenith bought equipnt, mostly guns and such, but us Wardens, as you may have noticed, have all kinds of toys from dinsional storage items to enchanted power armor and third tier weapons. I even have a personal shield generator of my own. In all, Im easily equipped with over 300,000 points of equipnt, not including the cost you Girls have to pay unlocking those Vaults. I probably also have over 50,000 points of expendable items alone like grenades, first aid, and ammunition. You dont have to worry about , Moon.
I felt my eyes widen, and Everglaive nodded with a smile.
Wardens are equipped with enough enchanted magitech gear that I would bet on them being able to defeat any Guardian lower than level 150. I have no doubt so of the stronger Wardens like Sanguine here would beat any Guardian level 199 and lower.
Damn right I would, Sergeant Kelley flexed in her black armor.
Everglaive shook her head, lips twitching.
Is there anything else you would like to ask before beginning?
I could feel my pulse beginning to pick up, my mouth drying as I realized I was about to be thrown back into danger again. Squeezing the familiar weight of my Umbra in my right hand helped to soothe my nerves, and I only stuttered slightly when I spoke.
Do you, um do you have any advice for ? On tactics, or just how to go about this?
Hmm Well, I mostly want to see how you do on your own to get a baseline, but I suppose I would say to rember what you already did in your first Usurpation. What worked and what didnt, that sort of thing.
Um, Naiad interjected, taking a step forward shyly. This might sound dumb, but what helped
was looking at Usurpations like I did dungeons in Magical Girls Sunset: Rebellion. Im assuming you have experience in that? Did you get far?
The fifth dungeon, I replied, and both Magical Girls stopped.
But Naiad sputtered. Werent you an ergency How long did that take you?
Two weeks, I think? I said, and Everglaive let out a huff of air, shaking her head while Naiad just blinked a few tis.
Oh. Well I guess that shouldnt be that surprising, given everything. Thats, um, still pretty crazy. Okay then. So, I would say that you should approach this Usurpation like you would a dungeon before you go into it. I dont want to interfere too much, but does that make sense?
Approach it like I would a dungeon in Sunset?
That
I could do that.
I nodded to Everglaive who gave
a comforting smile.
With that out of the way, well give you ti to prepare. Again, dont worry about hitting the three of us. Just focus on the Usurpation. Although I doubt sothing will go wrong, well be right there to help. Oh, and if you could speak out loud to your Familiar at least during the planning phase so we can hear your thought process, that would be appreciated.
Okay, I said, and she walked away, gesturing to Naiad and Sergeant Kelley to follow. The first gave
a thumbs up and the latter a wink as they trotted off. Naiad started murmuring so words, and with a snap of her fingers, the image of the three suddenly wavered before fading into nothing.
I stared for a mont.
Okay. I really need to unlock so magic soon. Thats too useful and too cool to pass up.
Turning back to the building, I crouched down, Selenes tails wavering back and forth.
Okay so a dungeon, I whispered. First step information. Selene, can you scout it out?
[On it.]
She hopped away, form blurring from spot to spot. Thinking about it for a mont, I turned to the spot where the three had disappeared. With how far Fantasy Fatale was going for , it didnt make sense to leave out information, especially when it might affect the advice they were going to give.
The sa went for Sergeant Kelley, but I was still going to ask her if she would sign a Geas afterwards, just to be safe.
My, um, bonus for being a Dark, I started. I have a HUD. It cos with a targeting reticle and minimap. Anything Selene scouts out also updates on the map.
I did leave out the part about identifying things. Selene had done a good job of explaining how dangerous that information getting out might be, and while I wanted to trust them, it was better to just be safe.
I should have tried identifying Fantasy Fatale, I realized a mont later, giving a ntal facepalm. Ill do it later. Focus on Usurpation for now.
With Selene off scouting, I decided to start with so testing, so I stood.
I dont know how fast I can run yet, I told the empty air. So Im going to do so tests while Selene finishes her scouting.
Nobody responded, which was expected, but it still made
feel a little silly.
Picking a tree at random so distance away, I ran.
And I was there in a matter of seconds, no more winded than if I walked. Picking a spot further out, I ran again.
I repeated the process a few tis, going at speeds ranging from an all out sprint to a jog. I pointed my still-empty Umbra a few tis, getting a feel for holding the gun at my new speed, and was quickly shocked at how steady my targeting reticle was. While it still enlarged by a good bit as I moved, it was much less than before, and when I aid when I wasnt moving, I could tell it had shrunk a small amount.
Even better, the reticle seed to shrink faster when I aid, narrowing in quicker than I rembered as I focused on a point and kept my breathing steady.
By the end of my testing, I was only breathing a little heavier, no more than if Id been doing a fast walk down the street. The results were impressive.
Overall, I was pretty sure I wasnt superhumanly fast yet with my 70 Agility. However, I was definitely faster. I didnt have a lot of reference, but I felt like I was probably close to a professional track sprinter. Even my jogging speed was ridiculous now, and I was pretty sure I could beat anybody on the school track team in a 100 ter dash even just going at my new long-distance running pace.
I think Im even faster than Lily now.
I shoved down the thought as it brought an aching pang up into my chest, not letting myself get distracted for more than a mont.
The other thing I noticed was that I wasnt just faster, I also had much more stamina. Even running at my full sprint speed, I was pretty sure I could maintain it for longer than normally should be possible. In fact, I was almost certain I could be going at a full sprint for twenty to thirty minutes at a ti.
So Agility has a huge effect on stamina, not just speed Wouldnt Vitality be the stat that determines stamina? Or does Agility sohow reduce my stamina loss when it cos to running? It doesnt really make logical sense, but the stats seem to affect things more based on their the than physical logic
Making a note to ask more about how stats worked exactly I decided to test my standing jump height.
And I promptly let out a half shriek as I flew over ten feet into the air.
My arms windmilled as I tried to control myself, stomach flipping as I started to fall. I choked down a scream as I landed directly on my feet, knees bending slightly, and-
I gasped, finding myself completely unhurt and standing with a slight hunch.
Quickly standing back up with a blush, I forced myself not to look around, knowing I wouldnt be able to see any reaction. I knew the others were probably trying not to laugh right now, but I couldnt bla them too much.
Jumping a few more tis, I forced myself to get used to the sensation of falling from such a high distance. Once I was fairly certain I wouldnt vomit if I had to make such a jump, I practiced doing so leaps, sprinting at full speed and jumping.
Turns out, the combination of my new speed and ridiculous jump height let
cover a lot of distance. Id been skeptical of Everglaives claim that 100 Agility at a minimum was recomnded for jumping across rooftops and over streets, but now I knew she hadnt been exaggerating.
It felt odd to
that my jump height had been affected so much more drastically than my actual speed by my Agility stat. I an, I could jump as high as a basketball hoop, but I was only running at the speed of a professional athlete. Though, my stamina also seed to have been affected disproportionately
Leaping around a few more tis, my eyes flicked to my minimap as I saw Selenes icon begin making her way back to . I was slightly winded from the exercises, but nothing a few seconds of resting wouldnt cure.
By the ti I made my way back to my backpack, Selene was sitting there waiting for , and I gave her a nod, looking over the now filled out minimap on my HUD. It responded to my intentions reflexively, zooming in or changing floors as I looked over it.
[The building is three stories. The largest area is the track, but theres an attached workout gym with various weightlifting machines. The other rooms are a variety of specialty rooms with a few offices. The Seed is located on the second floor in what I believe to be a yoga room.]
Nodding to her, I studied the map, paying attention to the red dots Selene had put down where she encountered Anathema.
Any information about the Anathema?
[Twelve hounds, ghouls, and wasps in the track room, another nine patrolling the rest of the building, and one Corpse Blossom in the locker room. With all the variety of potential Anathema, its interesting that were encountering more of the sa from the invasion.]
Is that bad?
[No, just interesting. The Anathema take corrupted forms based on fears, myths, and legends. Theres plenty of choices for them, so consolidating into certain types has interesting implications. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but Im sure the analysts would find it intriguing.]
Nodding, I looked back to my minimap.
Examining it, I ca to the simple conclusion that it was a ss.
Actual buildings, unlike ga-designed dungeons, were filled with hallways, turns, and side rooms that could hold Anathema. The mont I started firing, I was sure to start drawing so of them to , and once I got further into the building, it would be all too easy for them to co at
from an unseen angle.
Of course, the worst part was the fact I would be confining myself to short hallways with little to no ti to properly aim and get my shots off. The whole point of using a gun was to hit things at range, not get up close and personal. Even with my shield, it would be stupid to put myself in a situation where I would be at a disadvantage.
Which just left one thing to do.
Well enter the room with the track, I said. Its big and open enough to give
plenty of room to fight in. Between my new speed and range, I should be fine taking them down considering how far away you marked them from the entrance. If they do start to overwhelm us, we retreat back onto the street and use the door as a chokepoint. Ill leave the Ripple in a spot outside the doors just in case. After that, we wait for any that are drawn by the noise to co to us. Does does that sound good? Will they even co to the noise of the gunshots?
[It seems like a reasonable plan. This building was not built with the sa sound suppression materials of the mall, and a firearm going off in such a big room is going to echo. The sounds of fighting should be enough to draw most of them out, but a few might continue on their patrols.]
I nodded, then began to think to myself about how much ammunition I wanted to buy. I had a bunch of empty magazines in my backpack, but I didnt really want to spend more ti refilling them while I was sitting in the middle of an Usurpation.
After considering it for a while, I made out my order to Selene.
[Purchased: 9mm Silverbane Magazine x8]
[-8 Points]
[Purchased: 9mm Silverbane Magazine (30) x3]
[-6 Points]
[Remaining Points: 3,963]
Violet light coalesced in the magic circle that appeared next to , forming into a familiar black case. I opened it, quickly removing the magazines and loading up. One for each gun, the remaining nine going to Selenes tails.
With that finished I stood, and
I paused, taking a deep breath, hand squeezing around my Umbra tightly.
This was it. I was going back into a fight against the Anathema of my own free will. Even with my Astral Shifts advantages, I couldnt shake the fear that flashed through .
The mory of their claws and teeth, of the blood where the security team fought the Arachnomantis, of being surrounded and lying against the crystal and-
No.
I sucked in a breath and started moving, a walk at first, then jogging towards the entrance to the track.
I survived, thats all that matters.
I reached a side door, setting my Ripple down on the ground before putting my hand on the handle and sharpening my focus.
Besides
I threw open the door and stepped in, imdiately raising my gun as I spotted a Fomorian Hound turn towards
from no more than ten feet away.
I need to know
Raising my gun, surprise flickered through
that my reticle was noticeably smaller. Not by a lot, but even a small amount made a big difference. It lined up entirely inside the Anathemas body as it began to move.
If anything has really changed.
I fired, twice in quick succession, the sound echoing in the room. Black blood sprayed from the Anathemas back as I realigned my aim and-
It toppled over, a ding resounding in my head.
[Defeated (Fomorian Hound - Level 2)]
[Reward: 10 Points]
I blinked, staring in shock even as I ntally suppressed the notification to not pop up until later.
Two bullets to the body was all it took? But-
[Moon Bunny! Move!]
I acted on reflex to Selenes shout, jumping to the side as a blur of spine shot into where I was standing. Landing on the floor, I stumbled, using the montum to start running even as I took in the room.
Three wasps flitting around in the air, two ghouls on the far side, two more roaming, and a pack of four hounds sprinting towards .
I snapped my aim to the hounds first, firing six shots in quick succession into the group. Sohow, two went down, and a thirds kneecap burst open, sending it crashing to the ground. The wasps buzzed forward, briefly stopping to fire their stingers, but none ca close to hitting
as I continued running.
Switching my attention to the fourth hound, I was surprised to find that even though it was still sprinting towards , it was rapidly losing ground to my pace. Id managed to add another twenty or so feet from the initial distance. Slowing slightly, I twisted around, taking ti to aim the reticle at its head before firing once, planning to take single shots to conserve my remaining mag.
Its head exploded in a fountain of gore with a corresponding ding, and I once again stared in shock, fairly sure that a nine milliter bullet shouldnt be able to do that. Even the sprays of blood I was getting from body shots looked more like sothing out of a particularly violent action movie than the quick puffs Id mostly been getting at the mall
My stats I belatedly realized. Im level twelve punching down at things lower than level five, and I have half my stat points poured into Dexterity. Im hitting for way more damage than a normal person would be.
I started moving again, slowing to a jog and aiming up at one of the wasps. It did the sa 4 shaped evasive pattern, and three shots were enough to actually bisect the thing when one finally hit.
I twisted, turning to another wasp only to see a blur of motion followed by a slap against my shoulder that made
stumble backwards as purple light flared briefly in the side of my vision. More to buy
ti than anything else, I emptied my last four shots at the two wasps as I glanced down at my shoulder and crouched to reload.
Nothing. No blood, no insectoid stinger, not even a tear in the fabric of my mantle. Even my shoulder felt completely fine. On the ground a few feet away was one of the wasps stingers, as if it had been deflected off of . Glancing up to my HUD, I checked on my health to find it unchanged from its weird 83%, and my Aura
98%
A magazine was slapped into my hands, and I reloaded, hands moving with more confidence and speed than Id ever managed before. Launching myself into a run, I did another quick sweep of the room to see the ghouls closing on . Only two from behind, one from my side, and one straight ahead.
I reangled myself to be going away from them, turning my aim to the wasps.
Both tried to dodge.
Three bullets tore through the first one, and then the second followed a similar fate when I fired my next three into it.
In all honesty, I probably didnt have to use three bullets, but with how small a target they were and the distance involved, I wanted to be sure. The first had actually gotten a wing torn off by the first bullet and fallen, but the second Id missed with the first two, the third ripping a chunk from its thorax and killing it.
Turning behind , I saw that the ghouls were even less capable of keeping up with my speed than the hounds. I let myself get so more distance, then turned, dropping into a crouch and taking my ti to aim.
In video gas Id played, staying still and crouching down increased your accuracy by a lot, and reality didnt disappoint
either, my reticle shrinking slightly as I carefully sighted over my first ghoul.
I squeezed the trigger, and its shoulder was blown completely off, dismbering the ghoul. A ding sounded in my head to let
know that had been enough damage to kill it.
I turned to the next, my reticle covering its body and head, and fired. A solid chunk of its head burst open, killing it instantly.
I missed the third one with my next shot, but as I adjusted, the second round ripped off the ghouls jaw and sent blood spraying from its neck as it fell.
Even with
taking my ti to aim, the fourth was still about twenty feet away when I turned to it and fired. It took the shot to the chest, falling briefly to the ground only to start weakly squirming, trying to push itself back up.
A second shot ceased its movents.
And that left
alone in the suddenly still and quiet room.
Sothing surged up inside . Excitent? Amazent? Confusion? I wasnt sure how to classify the swirl of emotions as I looked around a room cleared of twelve Anathema, of literal monsters, all with the knowledge that I had done it.
And it hadnt even been that hard.
I took a breath, pushing the emotions down for later and ejecting my magazine. Two rounds were still inside and another in my Umbras chamber, but I wasnt about to continue with so few bullets.
Reaching to the side, Selene was imdiately there, slapping another mag into my hand that I slotted in, feeling the satisfying feeling of the mag locking into place.
My mind both felt like it was moving at a thousand thoughts a second and completely clear, my pounding heart only highlighting the dissonant feeling. I wanted nothing more than to back off and take a mont to think.
Instead, I stood and dashed further into the room, directing myself to the middle of the track to give
the most distance for any Anathema coming at . On my way there, I stopped to finish off the disabled hound and wasp with a bullet each, feeling a little surprised how sluggish and clumsy the hound was acting considering it was only missing one of its legs.
As I crouched down to wait in the center of the room, I noticed I wasnt even breathing heavily.
Ignoring that with a shake of my head, I kept my eyes on the doors and waited.
It didnt take long for the first ghoul to barge in, eyes imdiately locking onto
as I aid. It had barely taken a step before a bullet tore through its chest, a gurgling sound escaping its throat as it fell. It died a few seconds later before I could place my next shot.
The next five Anathema who entered did not fare any better, and I actually let them close so of the distance just to get better shots on them to avoid wasting ammunition. The most trouble I had was when two hounds ca at the sa ti, but even they didnt manage to make
abandon my spot.
In all, it took
another seven bullets, one having missed and another only grazing a ghouls side.
I waited, forcing myself to take slow, patient breaths, but after a few minutes, it beca clear to
that no more Anathema were going to be lured in. I released my mag for a fresh one, handing the semi-empty one to Selene. Then I quickly collected my other two expended magazines, giving them to her as well.
Okay, I said, taking a slow breath. Selene, we um. Were heading in. Nearest Anathema first. You scout ahead.
[Roger that.]
Selene hopped off without preamble, and I followed behind after giving her a head start. Watching her slowly phase through a door was weird, and I briefly wondered how that must feel for her.
Walking through the rest of the building was both terrifying and extrely uneventful. The lights were still on, but the lack of movent or sound was grating, especially when I passed by windows looking into a big weight-lifting area with abandoned bags and water bottles.
I tried to ignore it, but the image of the Usurpation warning going off and people panicking to run to the nearest shelter flashed through my mind.
My hand gripped tighter around my gun.
We found the first Anathema in a hallway, a ghoul hunched over and staring listlessly into a glass cabinet filled with pictures. Sothing about the scene made
freeze, watching as it just stood there. Even from twenty feet away, it didnt seem to notice .
Slowly, I raised my gun, aiming down the sight and steadying my aim until my reticle was almost completely contained within its head.
It made no movents.
Carefully, I began to move forward, my reticle shrinking further as I closed the distance.
It still didnt react.
I swallowed, heart pounding in my ears as I took one last step, my boot squeaking slightly on the floor.
Slowly, it turned its featureless head towards , its wide mouth and pale, pointed teeth letting out a heavy breath of air.
I fired.
The ghouls head exploded, black blood spraying across the glass case. It fell bonelessly to the ground, and I swallowed down the bile in my throat as I stepped forward, looking down at the Anathema before glancing into the glass case.
It had pictures of various people holding trophies, so of individual weight lifters and others of school teams, their faces grinning at
through the blood spattered glass. A single bullet hole cracked through the glass, miraculously missing any of the pictures to dig a hole into the back of the case.
In one of the pictures, a girl looked back at
with a grin, sunflower blond hair tied in a tight bun as she showed off a dal. My heart skipped a beat until I squinted a little closer.
Green eyes, not blue. Sharper face. Not enough muscle. More endowed. Wrong track uniform.
Not Lily.
I moved on, heart racing from the mont.
Ill see her soon. Well talk. Everything will be fine.
The next Anathema was a hound in another hallway, and Selene had
wait until its patrol took it a dozen feet away from the door I had to open to reach it.
When I threw the door open, the hound reacted almost imdiately and began turning. It had only managed to face
when I opened fire, three shots pulping the hounds face and spraying gore across the floor as it fell.
We continued to the next, a ghoul located at the reception area for the gym portion of the building. This one was shuddering, twitching as it looked around, vaguely facing the front doors as its clawed fingers tapped on the ground restlessly.
It noticed
as I stepped into view from the hall leading to the gym. It let out a hissing breath, launching itself towards .
It closed maybe five of the twenty feet before one shot hit its emaciated shoulder and sent it spinning to the ground. My follow-up took it where its eyes should have been, finishing it off.
[Only one left,] Selene noted, her normally musical tone coming out flat.
I gave a distracted hum of agreent, heart jittering for a mont as I realized what that ant. A cold, biting chill sweeping through .
Selene turned to look at .
I stared at her, saying nothing.
She nodded, and then led the way to the wons locker room. Every step closer to the location marked on my mini-map made it harder for
to breathe. I forced myself forward, not pausing until we were outside one of the doors.
[The Anathema is directly above the doorway ten feet to your left after entering,] Selene told .
I nodded, turning the handle slightly, my pulse pounding in my ears as I slowly opened the door.
The lights were off in the locker room, turning the rows of lockers into ominous cages. I took only one step into the room, aiming to my left as I saw the door Selene had been talking about. Just above it, there was a patch of shadows.
I aid at it, the reticle wider than it should be.
Black tendrils lined with bone-white teeth unfurled, revealing a bloodshot eye.
I fired, my aim going wild as I unloaded a half-dozen shots that echoed painfully in the enclosed room. The corpse blossom fell, landing onto the locker room floor with a splat. I kept my Umbra trained on it well after the confirmation ding went off in my head. My ears rang as I approached it, the only sound in the room was my ragged breathing as I stopped myself, standing over it.
My bullets had popped the eye, black blood leaking everywhere as it laid there lifelessly. Staring at it, my eyes trailed down to the toothed tendrils.
Tendrils tightened along my left forearm, and then they twisted. Pressure built, sothing snapped and pain exploded through .
I felt my breaths start to co faster.
Lightning lanced up my arm as my bones snapped, and I scread as the pressure continued to build only to be followed by another crack that lit my nerves on fire.
Dimly, I heard Selene trying to say sothing to .
I swung the saw down, eting no resistance. My lower arm fell to the floor, but I felt nothing as I stared at my stump, small streams of blood spurting out onto the floor.
Sothing in
snapped, and I raised my gun and fired another shot into the Anathema.
Then another.
And another.
I kept firing, each shot coming out progressively faster until my Umbras slide clicked back empty. The Corpse Blossom was little more than a mangled ss of flesh, blood forming a thick pool underneath it as I gasped for air, the sulfur sll of gunsmoke thick in my nose.
Closing my eyes, I tried to bring my breathing back under control. I felt Selene brush up against my ankle, her body leaning against my leg as I took a quivering breath in. Gratefulness flickered through , the slight weight helping to ground .
It didnt take
long to get myself back under control. When I opened my eyes again, I was left feeling tired and empty. I reached down, receiving a fresh magazine that I swapped out, the empty going to Selene.
Just the Seed left? I asked, Selene responding with an affirmative hum. Okay. Lead the way.
Walking through the empty building was still tense even knowing there wasn't any Anathema left. I tried to keep my guard up anyway, but my thoughts kept trailing to the Corpse Blossom and the rest of the Anathema Id killed today.
It had been nothing like the mall. Every encounter there had been a panicked haze of desperation as I tried to pull out every trick possible to just stay alive. Here, though, the fights had been a joke. Id only been hit once, and it barely reduced my shield at all. Most of the combat had been nothing more than
outrunning and outranging everything.
And I barely knew how to use a gun beyond the absolute basics.
And I hadnt used a single spell or my Signature Magic.
And I didnt have a single Skill ormy Class unlocked yet.
But Id still beaten twenty-two Anathema without even really trying that hard.
It was weird. I wasnt sure what I was expecting to feel really. Part of
just felt relieved it was over, but another part felt satisfied. One hound had almost been enough to kill
at the mall, and the Corpse Blossom but Id taken them out. Nobody would have to go through what I did, and having defeated twenty-two Anathema
I ntally unsilenced my notifications, looking over the log. I hadnt gained any levels, but earning 205 points brought
up to 4188. Considering I only spent a few points on ammunition, Id more than co out ahead, especially with how easy this all had been.
So many points. My handgun Vault only cost
100 points. Just what kinds of things am I going to be able to unlock with over four thousand?
Excitent fluttered through my chest, a small smile pulling on my lips as I wondered how much stronger I was going to be after I spent my points and-
I stopped in my tracks, the smile fading instantly.
Am I actually enjoying this?
During the fight Id mostly been scared, adrenaline pumping through
as I fought, but thinking back, there had been an undercurrent, a slight thrill as I outran the monsters and defeated them, a fierce satisfaction as I aid and hit my shots.
And that wasnt even touching how it felt to be getting so many points. Now that Id had a few hours to adjust from waking up, I realized I actually felt a little excited to explore what kinds of things I could purchase. It reminded
of the feeling I sotis got when I beat a hard dungeon in Rebellion. It was a sense of accomplishnt mixed with eager anticipation at the possible rewards, but sohow, it felt more real.
When was the last ti I felt like this?
Standing there, I realized that I wasnt sure if Id ever really felt like this. Even the first ti Lily had invited
to her house, Id been more nervous and wary that it was so kind of trap by Katie than anything else.
[Moon Bunny?] Selene whispered, her gentle voice radiating concern.
Shaking myself from my thoughts, I hurried after her. My mouth felt uncomfortably dry for so reason, but it wasnt the ti to be spacing out.
Selene led
up the stairs and across the floor. The rooms looked to be a mix of offices, ditation spaces, and yoga rooms. It was to one of the latter rooms that Selene led , and I opened the door after she phased through without waiting for .
Inside, the room was almost empty except for the yoga mats on the floor and what could only be the Miasma Seed.
A giant flower grew in the center of the room. It looked almost identical to a red spider lily, although its petals were a glowing violet color while the stem was an inky black. From the center of the flower, fractal lines of black shadow arced out into reality, splitting the air as if it was made of glass.
As I stepped closer, I began to hear faint sound of dissonant whispers. The sound rasped through the room like a dying breeze, a wordless sigh that brushed against my skin.
I shivered, staring at the Seed. In a way, it was beautiful, but it also felt wrong in a way I couldnt fully comprehend other than the fact filled
with equal parts sorrow and dread.
[This is the Miasma Seed,] Selene said, startling
out of my reverence. [Doing enough damage will cause it to disperse. With an Usurpation of this level, a single bullet should be more than enough.]
Nodding to her, I raised my Umbra, carefully aiming it at the flower.
Then I fired.
The gunshot rang out followed by the sound of breaking glass as the flower shattered. As it fell apart, the shards disintegrated into swiftly fading motes of light. The whispers faded, and I felt an almost imperceptible change in the air as the invisible tension Id felt upon entering the Usurpation disappeared.
[Quest Completed! - Girls First (Official) Usurpation]
[Description: Although you may have already braved a much more deadly Usurpation, you have yet to experience more than the most basic capabilities of being a Magical Girl! Go along with Everglaive and Naiad to clear your first official Usurpation and get a feel for your true abilities!]
[Difficulty: Very Easy]
[Reward: 50 Points]
[New Point Total: 4,238]
Blinking in surprise at the notification, I turned to Selene who shrugged her tails.
[You seed to have enough on your mind on our way here, so I confird the quest in your stead. I hope that is acceptable?]
I nodded at her, opening my mouth to say sothing only to jump in surprise as the air in the corner of the room shimred. I started raising my gun, stopping when the image of three familiar figures solidified in front of .
Now that was quite the show! Sergeant Kelley grinned at , hands on her hips. Ive got to say, its always a treat seeing a Guardian in action, but seeing a newbie wipe out an entire Usurpation with just a handgun? Amazing. Let
just say, for having no real training, you did a darn fine job.
Indeed, Everglaive gave
a gentle smile. Your speed and accuracy were quite impressive.
I felt my cheeks flush as Naiad stepped up to , tilting her head as she peered at my shoulder.
Are you alright? It didnt look like the wasps stinger made it through your Aura, but
Im okay, I told her, fidgeting under her attention.
Naiad seed to realize she was making
uncomfortable, because she backed off a mont later. Everglaive looked over at
almost expectantly, folding her hands behind her back as she addressed .
I hope that this experience has given you so perspective on what it ans to fight as a proper Magical Girl. That was the purpose behind this exercise, after all. Hopefully, you can now make a more inford decision on what kind of Magical Girl you wish to be.
I chewed on my lip, shifting my weight from side to side nervously.
Honestly, I only felt more conflicted than ever. Id co into the Usurpation expecting it to be this big, horrible event I was going to struggle through only to have the opposite happen. Combined with the help offered by Fantasy Fatale and Sergeant Kelley, it left
feeling torn.
There was one thing that tugged at the back of my mind, though.
It wont always be this easy, though, will it? I asked quietly.
It was mostly a rhetorical question, considering I knew how bad things could get. Maybe they werent doing it on purpose, but by taking
to this Usurpation and showing
how easy it was, I felt almost like I was being fed a false sense of security. It was a trick Katie had used against
a few tis now, letting up on her bullying only to hit
when I let my guard down.
I wanted to believe that wasnt what was happening here, but it still felt like there was so manipulation going on.
That remains entirely up to you, Everglaive responded, surprising . So Guardians dont take quests or fight Usurpations unless they have a five to ten level advantage at a minimum. Others, like Thorina, enjoy fighting Anathema of higher levels and the challenge it brings. Neither path is wrong.
So might look down on casual Guardians, the ones who barely level and only pick fights they know they can win, Naiad added softly. But theres nothing wrong with being safe. Its more important that the world has Guardians regardless of what they do.
Indeed, Everglaive tilted her head to the side. But I think you already have enough on your mind to contemplate. Now that youve experienced a proper Usurpation, I think you should take so ti to figure out your next steps. Sergeant Kelley, Naiad, and I will be waiting outside when youre ready to depart. One last thing, before I leave you.
She held out her hand, and an erald flash of light materialized my backpack into her hand. Setting it down, Everglaive gestured to it.
In the second folder I gave you, I said there was a letter. I would recomnd reading it now before you make any decisions. Ladies, lets give Moon Bunny so ti to think.
Everglaive turned on her heel and left without preamble, and Sergeant Kelley followed behind with a wave and grin. Naiad hesitated, seeming to want to say sothing. Instead, she just gave
a little nod before she left.
Watching them leave, I let out a breath, sitting down next to my backpack and putting down my Umbra.
Id done it. I defeated more monsters and cleared out an entire Usurpation on my own.
So why did I feel so torn? Empty yet satisfied? Guilty yet excited?
Why didnt I feel any closer to an answer than before I agreed to this plan?
[Mai,] Selenes gentle voice rolled over . [Please know that regardless of the path forward you choose, I am with you.]
Numbly, I nodded as I grabbed the folder I was looking for from my backpack. Pulling out the envelope inside, I leaned against the wall, hugging my knees to my chest and closed my eyes.
Everything felt like it was happening too quickly. Even though it had technically been a week since the mall, Id been asleep the whole ti, so it really didnt count. To , my life had been drastically changed in less than a days worth of ti, and I was struggling to figure out my new place in life.
I decided to try to save a boy, almost died, had been chosen to be a Magical Girl, was locked out of a shelter, got into gun fights with monsters, lost an arm, and then chosen to sacrifice what little I had to save the lives of an entire shelter along with my best and only friend.
And the only reason I was alive was because others had risked everything for
and continued to treat
like I was so kind of hero, like Id made this great big sacrifice that had helped Arcadia fight off an entire invasion.
But I wasnt. I was just one selfish, lonely girl who didnt want the blood of her friend or innocent people on her conscience. I wasnt what Everglaive or the rest of Fantasy Fatale seed to think I was. Even Selene, as supportive as she was, didnt really have a choice in the matter. She was tied to , so of course she would try to make
feel good and help .
I just I felt lost. Even before becoming a Magical Girl, Id just been moving forward one step at a ti. With Dad, my brother, and everything I owed I didnt have a future, not one I got a real choice in, anyway.
Which was fine. It was just the way things were. The way the world worked.
But now it wasnt.
Sohow, the Zenith had picked , and if I wanted, everything could be different.
Wanted.
That was the problem, wasnt it? I hadnt really thought about what I wanted in a long ti. Beyond stealing so of Lilys ti, playing gas on my phone to take my mind off everything else, and trying to make good on what was required of , I didnt really know what I wanted.
Was defeating Anathema with Selene fun? Did I like shooting guns and being rewarded with points for killing monsters?
Weirdly, yes, but that was shallow. Shafully so. Could I really make a decision on what I wanted to do with the rest of my life based on fun? Based on what I liked?
Id made the contract to be a Magical Girl, but Fantasy Fatale made it clear it was my choice on what fighting the Anathema ant. It all just depended on what I wanted.
Wanted. That word again. That frustratingly vague, hazy concept that I couldnt grasp because it hadnt ever really mattered what I wanted. All that mattered was what I had to do and what I deserved.
And what right do I have to make a decision based on what I want? How much more selfish can I possibly be? What right do I have to make this decision?
Silence fell on , the quiet gaining a weight that pushed down on my shoulders and squeezed my chest tight.
I dont know what to do, Selene, I whispered to her numbly. Im not what everyone thinks I am. Im not brave. I didnt do what I did at the mall because Im a hero. Im not strong. Im just I just did what I had to. Im not Magical Girl material.
[Mai] Selene started, but I shook my head, raising my head to look at her.
If I hadnt been bleeding out on that mall floor, I whispered, finally giving words to the niggling doubt that had been gnawing at the back of my thoughts, you would never have gone through with choosing .
Selene went still.
I stared into her eyes, searching for so hint, so confirmation that I was right.
[Open your letter.]
Her voice was calm and quiet, but there was an unwavering steel in her tone that brooked no room for argunt.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I opened the letter, pulling two folded pieces of paper free and unfurling them.
Dear Mai,
My na is Lucielle Palr, and my husband Jacob is also here helping
find the right words. Im not really sure how to write this sort of thing, so Ill just co out and say it: Thank You.
You dont know us, but its thanks to you and your friend Lily that our children, Brian and Lucy, are safe. You risked everything for them, put yourself in danger, and even fought those monsters to save our baby boy. There are no words for the sheer gratitude we have for you, and it was devastating to hear you were injured keeping our boy safe. For this reason, we decided to write you this thank you and get well soon letter.
Brian has been over the moon since hes been ho, telling us about how brave and cool you were. Hes always been bright and curious, and we were afraid that maybe this incident might have hurt or changed him.
It hasnt. Hes just as energetic as ever, and seems to have co out of all of this unscathed. Other than carrying his new toy around everywhere, its almost like nothing ever happened. I dont know how you managed to keep him safe while also keeping his spirit alive, but you have my eternal thanks.
Lucy is doing good too, although she refuses to let Brian out of her sight when we are outside now. Shes been inspired by your friend Lily, and has started getting into running to beco cool and strong like her.
Speaking of your friend, Im not sure what youve heard, but she did everything in her power to stop the shelters ergency shield from activating. She even put herself between the controls and fought a panicking security guard to stop it from happening. I hope you dont bla her for what happened, because when it ca down to it, she was the first one to fight for your safety, and the most torn up when the shield went up.
Im sorry if this letter cos off as rambling, but there truly is no way to express how thankful we are to you. Were going to get to watch our boy grow up thanks to you, and our little girl wont know the agony of losing her brother. We get to be a family, to have birthdays and Christmas parties, to laugh and live without having to shoulder the pain of losing sobody dear, and its all thanks to you.
If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask. Weve included our ho address and phone numbers to the bottom of the letter and would love to have you over for dinner soti to give you a proper thanks. Heaven knows Brian would love to see you again, and Lucy would be overjoyed if you brought along Lily.
Please know that you are always welco at our house, and do not hesitate to call if there is anything we can do for you.
You are such a blessing.
Sincerely,
The Palrs.
I stared at the words, eyes glued to the last line.
A blessing.
Youre a curse, Dad snarled, as I curled up on the floor, trying to choke down my sobs at the throbbing pain in my stomach. You owe this family everything! Dont you realize that!?
My vision blurred, wet spots appearing on the letter. I moved it out of the way, revealing the second paper.
It was a picture done in crayon. On it were two crudely drawn figures, stick figures except for the clothes they were wearing.
The first was a boy, holding a smaller stick figure in his hands with a smile.
The second was a girl, one eye a bright blue and the other an eyepatch. In one hand she held the boys free arm while the other held sothing like a pickaxe.
On the ground next to them was a black colored dog-like creature with two red Xs for eyes.
Finally, above the two figures were words written in crayon.
Thank You!
I lowered the picture, my hand trembling.
[You did that, Mai Kuroki,] Selene told , her words absolute. [Regardless of what you perceive your motivations to have been or how you rationalize your decisions as necessary, it does not change the fact that you saved a child. Then you saved hundreds. You stopped thousands of others, of family mbers and friends, from having to mourn their losses. If nothing else, take heart in the simple fact that when it ca down to it, you chose to save others over yourself.]
The world beca an indistinct swirl of colors as a thick, heavy feeling rose in my chest. I tried to take a calming breath, wiping at my eyes with my sleeve. Deep inside , I felt a flicker of genuine happiness tinged with actual pride.
And wasnt that a weird feeling? It wasnt the cheap thrill of conquering a challenge in a ga, the brisk relief of hearing I cooked another satisfactory al for my family, or the brittle relaxation I found listening to music.
It was a real, fulfilling feeling that I had done sothing worthwhile, and that I enjoyed it.
Id never really known what I wanted for my future. I didnt have any stand out skills, was too awkwardly shy to be talented socially, and other than Fathers connections and small amount of fa, I had no real advantages to rely on. From all my attempts at trying to find so kind of job I might be good at, I was all too aware of what I wasnt good at and what I didnt like.
But maybe that was enough, because if I knew what I didnt like, then maybe I could find my calling in preventing those things.
It seed like an obvious idea in retrospect, but to be fair, I was pretty sure that line of reasoning only worked if you were passionate about whatever you didnt like, if it was sothing you hated.
It just so happened that I knew exactly what I hated.
The hollow ache of loneliness, the subversive barbs from cheap insults, the burning throb of a fresh bruise, and the bitter, ever-present emptiness of loss.
Pain.
Id grown used to it to the point it hardly bothered
anymore. It didnt stop
from hurting, from having sleepless nights being frustrated at how helpless I was, but it beca easier to keep moving forward regardless of how I felt. In a way, being hurt was more of a familiar feeling than a revolting, intrusive one. Id adapted to it, because that was just how life was.
But the one thing Id never grown used to was seeing other people in pain. How could I when I was so familiar with what they were going through, when Id struggled through what they had, when Id lost nights of sleep trying not to cry too loudly over sothing similar to what they were struggling against?
How could I turn away when I knew what it was to be helpless?
I accepted pain that happened to , but pain itself? I abhorred it. I outright loathed watching others suffer. Nothing in my life made
feel more relieved and happy than the few tis Id been put into a position to ease soone elses pain.
But this ti with Brian and his family, I was actually able to prevent it altogether.
Now, after reading their letter and realizing how much it ant to them, it seed obvious what I wanted.
I wanted to save people from having to go through the sa pain I had.
Maybe that was a fragile dream I would never have been able to follow just a little while ago, but now?
Now I could walk that path if I chose to.
I could be more than just Mai Kuroki, the awkward, weak little girl with weird eyes.
I could be Moon Bunny, the Dark Magical Girl who killed monsters and protected those who couldnt protect themselves.
The fact that I actually enjoyed so aspects of being a Magical Girl would just be a bonus.
Everything clicked into place, and I suddenly knew.
Looking up from the letter at Selene, I took a deep shuddering breath in.
Selene, I rasped. I I want to be a Magical Girl. I want to fight Anathema. I want to stop anybody from having to go through what I have. I want to protect people.
I licked my suddenly dry lips, forcing myself to not look away from her gaze.
Will you help ? I murmured the question.
Selenes scarlet eyes glowed, tails fanning about behind her.
[Nothing would make
happier.]
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