Unfortunately, even when I made it back to the inn, where Rose was lying out on the bed and had passed the hell out from the heat, there wasn't much time anymore for fun.
A shame that, because Rose didn't manage to pull off her swimsuit before she passed out, evidently…
No. No, bad Nori. You can mating press the cheeky Valkyrie later, and maybe ask her what the plan was regarding Freya in the first place.
I slap my face with both hands and set about writing down a note, leaving it on the bedside next to Rose, for when she wakes up.
I, uh, couldn't find any paper, so I had to use one of the pamphlets. It should be fine; besides, I'm in a bit of a rush.
If what Freya told me is true, and Charlemagne and her Hero Faction are after Schwe's friend due to her potential Ancient Sacred Gear, then at any moment, they could show up for her.
Hell, Plain Jane apparently paid top dollar for a Magician to send her to the Norse realm; though she got detected and almost caught, she was still able to make it here relatively easily.
In any event, Charlemagne could be here, in this town, even, and we'd be none the wiser. Who knows what kind of transportation her side possesses, after all.
That means I need to start my watch as soon as possible.
That also means, however, that I can't go about it in an obvious way, since we have to assume they've already infiltrated the town in some manner.
So Freya and I made a big show of going straight home, well, after having a little show.
I think Schwe wants to skewer me even more now. Didn't think that'd be possible.
Her friend, Regin, Schwe called her. According to Freya, her full name is Reginleif. I tried saying her name out loud, and immediately started choking on my own tongue.
Yeah, Regin it is.
I didn't focus too much on her until after I was done messing and flirting with Freya, though.
Regin was shorter than Schwe by a hair, but was far thinner by comparison. The girl looked almost perpetually sick, once I really focused on her. I could see why Freya wanted to keep an eye on her.
Even beyond that, her aura matched her appearance, oddly. It felt weak, sure, but it also felt…dried out. If that made any sense. It was like looking at someone who had a perpetual drought around them.
I couldn't feel a Sacred Gear from the read I went over her with, but if she does have one, and it's unawakened, and it's weakening her this much, I don't want to go digging around in case I accidentally hit a button in her soul and activate it.
Besides that though, there really wasn't much else of note. She had pink eyes, her silver hair was up in cute little twin buns, and she had matching pink highlights throughout her hair like Schwe has her blue ones.
What is with all these girls having assorted highlights in their hair, now that I think about it?
Bah. Distractions. Stay on track!
With a huff, I grab my sword and sheath by the bedside, and slowly mute my presence before summoning a clone and shutting down my power and presence the rest of the way.
The clone salutes me before turning and prowling his way over to Rose.
I huff and smack the insubordinate me over the head with my sword sheath.
He grumbles in fake pain before whiningly going to the room's kitchen to start making something for when Rose wakes up.
I nod, pleased, before walking out of the room and immediately putting my trained stealth abilities to use.
Regin has a store, a bakery run by her family. Plain Jane actually ended up working there part-time after saving Regin from being brought in along with her by that Valkyrie Squad whose memories she wiped.
The same bakery that Zekka ran into her at.
I couldn't help but snort as I left the inn at the sheer absurdity of it all.
What kind of absurd luck even is that?
Ah well, it really is par for the course when it comes to events in this world, at this point.
Anyhow, that's where I'm heading now, Regin's family bakery.
No one besides Freya, not even the girls, is going to know or be informed of this.
Regin, due to her unique illness, doesn't get around or move all that often, and so that's where she tends to spend most of her time.
While I'm doing this, Freya is going to secure Plain Jane even tighter, to make sure no one can get at her while she's confined, just in case.
I have no idea what that's going to look like, but I have no reason to worry about that at the moment.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice I had made my way to the rooftops, that I was scaling them, and that I had arrived at my destination.
It was a quaint little bakery, although they were predictably closed, doors locked up and lights out at the moment; I suspect I'll be seeing some activity here soon once Regin returns.
Faintly, I draw a finger across the scar on my cheek, and I feel a spike of adrenaline surge down my spine.
Hah~...I really have been itching for a good fight, haven't I? To be feeling like this now, of all times.
Charlemagne. Or, whoever you send to do your dirty work, I hope you can put up a very good fight.
For both our sakes.
~ A New Sun ~
Seriously. Please. For the love of me. I'm so fucking, bored.
The only reason I haven't passed the fuck out yet is because of my sheer unrelenting will to see this through to the end!
A full, bloody day has passed.
Nothing.
This was my idea; I can't complain, but I'm going to anyway.
From the shadows, I watched as Regin came home last night.
That's it. Nothing else happened.
I immediately started feeling like a creep. Oh well.
Morning came, and she opened up shop.
It was actually fairly odd how she didn't seem to have anyone else working with her, and not even Plain Jane's memories had an explanation for that.
Where is her family during all of this?
She had never thought to ask, because the idea of it being unusual never occurred to her in the first place.
Ah. Broken childhoods. We all have them, huh?
Anyhow, I looked around the store, but saw no one of note. No cloaked figures thinking they were sneaky amongst the crowd, no one trying way too hard to hide their presence, nothing like that.
It was a normal workday for Regin running the bakery, it seemed like. Her family's place wasn't absurdly popular or anything, but it did have a steady stream of customers, who Regin seemed familiar with. Regulars, then.
Now, it's getting late into the evening. Regin closed up shop, and at this point, I'm considering praying to the Big G himself, even if I get my skull cracked, just to make something fucking happen.
Hell, Zekka and Schwe even showed up a little bit ago, just to help Regin clean up for the day, it looked like, and still, nothing.
Considering how much of a trouble magnet she is, you'd think something would've happened now that she's here by now.
Ah, well.
From a nearby rooftop, I turn over on my side and let out a quiet sigh.
Stakeouts. Always boring as fuck. Why do I keep thinking these are good ideas?
A presence.
I slowly turn my gaze to the sky, blinking several times.
Something happened. Something happened across the entirety of the town. No, not even just the town; it extends far, far beyond that, across the field, the entire domain, perhaps.
My senses can't see where it ends.
I can feel it, a blanket of power, like a barrier, but no, it'd be more apt to call it a cage.
But then, it's actually layered over top of something else. An actual barrier that I hadn't noticed before, purely because I didn't look that far out, yet I recognize the aura of its powers very well.
Freya.
Someone just put a big cage around, potentially, Freya's entire domain, even her own barrier.
Well. If that's not a signal, I don't know what is.
Fortunately, whatever this cage is doing, it doesn't stop me from sensing what comes next.
It was so sudden, I almost didn't catch it.
A holy aura.
One I recognize from that day in the fjord, the Norse valley, at the evil dragon's apparent site.
My grin splits my face in twain, and I've turned around before I even notice what I'm doing.
There, before the bakery. In the evening's late light, a white-cloaked figure appeared.
From head to toe, their body was completely concealed, yet the aura that marked their arrival, as sudden and nearly missable as it was, ultimately revealed them to me.
Without a sound, I vanished from my point atop the roof.
~ A New Sun ~
Zekka had already frozen stiff.
"Oh?" Schwe murmured, sitting up from where she was leaning over a table, drying it with a cloth, "A customer?"
As though summoned by the ringing of the door, Regin came in swiftly, sighing, "Sorry, we're closed for the day!"
They didn't notice.
Then, they didn't have reason to notice.
This aura, this divine aura, she had felt it before, that morning in the fjord; Tensei recognized it, though he couldn't say where.
Zekka gave a stiff turn of her head in the direction of that power, and found a completely cloaked figure, from head to toe.
Even their face was obscured by the fluttering white hood; she couldn't tell who it was at all.
As if that mattered, right?
"You two." Zekka glared at the white-cloaked figure solemnly. "Please." She stepped forward, her chest already shining. "Run away at once." She drew Tensei, her freshly dry sword awfully quiet as she assumed her stance.
Understandably, Schwe and Regin looked confused, concerned, and a bit exasperated.
That was until the figure - she, judging by her rather regal feminine voice - spoke.
"Hmm, samurai sure have keen battle instincts."
Zekka narrowed her eyes, and out of the side of her vision, she could see Regin and Schwe, who were still here, slide into being more confused than anything else.
"Oh well." The cloaked woman uttered before completely ignoring Zekka, inclining her cloaked head toward…Regin?
"I shall make this quick and simple." She began, "Reginlief. If you come quietly and obey, I will not resort to violence."
That managed to pretty quickly change the other two girls' expressions.
Almost immediately, Schwe stepped in front of Regin, blocking the path between her and the cloaked woman, frowning deeply.
Yet Regin, Zekka almost flinched, seeing how…sad she looked all of a sudden?
"...obey, what do you mean?" Regin uttered.
"I'll take you with me," the cloaked woman began to explain, "and then, I can release the power-"
"As if!" Schwe called out.
Several Norse magic circles sprang into existence around the cloaked woman.
Her cloak barely made a flutter. She didn't even flinch.
"Like we'd listen to some random suspicious person running around in a cloak!" Schwe nearly snarled, taking a step forward toward the figure.
Zekka did as well. Not wanting to be ignored.
Yet, the figure remained still.
Regin simply shook her head, a small frown across her face, as she tried to wave her off. "We are busy with the music festival. You need to leave from-"
"Ah, the music festival?" The cloaked woman mused, her cloaked head tilting. "How can you still play around so much, with barely any life left in that body?"
Her words were quiet, yet sharp and pointed. It sounded like a question, yet…
Zekka and Schwe froze up, almost at the same time.
Almost unconsciously, they found their gazes shifting from the figure back to Regin.
Whose eyes were now completely wide.
After a moment, Schwe spoke up, quietly, "...what does that mean, R-Regin?"
Her voice nearly broke at the thought the question posed.
For a moment longer, Regin stood there, yet she didn't turn away in shock or fear; no. Instead, she simply sighed, her eyes growing with a dull calm as she addressed her old friend, "I can hear it." She stated plainly, "The sound of death. I don't have much time left, it seems…"
She stopped for a moment, like she wanted to say something more, something else.
She shook her head and finished with, "I've already informed my family and Lady Freya."
Schwe's breath hitched, and Zekka flinched alongside her.
"Why didn't you tell me- ah," Schwe uttered breathlessly, "that thing you wanted to talk about…"
From the sauna, Zekka recalled hearing Regin say something like that.
Then they all, um, ran into Sensei and Lady Freya…w-well.
Best not to think about that right now!
The cloaked woman stepped forward now, seizing this chance in their dismay to speak again, "Do you wish for a strong and healthy body?" She offered, "If you obey, if you follow my lead, you may yet lead a full, splendid life."
Regin shook her head, a sardonic smile crossing her face. "It won't disappear." She stated, "I've…already given up."
Zekka wanted to run over and hug the girl, right now.
But not like this. They still don't know what this woman really wants.
"Yet." The woman continued, something growing in her voice. "You still want to enjoy music with her, don't you?" She pressed, her cloaked arm waving in Schwe's direction.
Zekka felt it, then.
Something's coming.
Regin's eyes widened, and she lifted her head toward the cloaked woman.
Deeper in her eyes, something sparkled.
"There." The woman pressed, and Zekka realized then what that feeling in her voice was.
Jubilation. But not the normal kind of happiness or joy, the one she'd normally hear in the voices of priests, or the rare miko.
"Just now, you made a wish, didn't you?" She could feel the cloaked woman's smile, even though she couldn't see it; she could feel it in the way her voice rose. "You wished to live, right?"
[...Zekka.] Tensei spoke to her at long last, something like dread and awe passing through his voice. [It can't be.]
The woman's robes fluttered before Zekka could even comment, throwing out her arm.
"[Another Longinus]."
At her call, light appeared, a nimbus blooming from her body and from within her hand.
A golden, glowing, twinkling sword filled with radiance appeared.
[The Miracle…!] Tensei exclaimed within her mind, as Zekka's eyes immediately locked onto the blade, [Wait, Zekka, sto-]
Too late.
N̵̘͇͆͂O̴̧̲͗́̚
Zekka stumbled backward, breath heaving as blood gushed out of her nose.
She looked down, eyes shakily staring at the violent outpouring of blood draped down her chest and stomach.
She tried to listen to the sword's voice, and it…rebuffed her?
The woman huffed with indignation, "To try and peek at God's Dying Wish. How blasphemous."
What?
"Z-Zekka!" Schwe ran to her side as the light around the woman began to fade, and she raised her sword, pointing it to the sky.
"I suppose it should've been expected," she mused, "who would follow someone after their first meeting, after all? It was never going to happen. However, I can at least accomplish this much." A golden light began to spark around her, causing the cloak around her to flutter violently. "Awaken that Sacred Gear."
That light reached a crescendo, coalescing around the tip of her sword, before shooting straight up into the sky.
The roof of the shop exploded as the beam soared, until it seemed to meet with the light in the sky itself.
A gigantic magic circle burst into existence.
"A Dragon Gate!?" Schwe exclaimed in shock and no small amount of horror, as Zekka simply gazed, vision growing hazy.
"Come. [Slavery Dragon, Fernyiges." The woman called.
Schwe immediately rose to her feet, her magic circles pulling back into a defensive position around them as chains - disgusting, maliciously glowing chains burst forth from the circle like water from a tap.
Zekka tried to get up, but her body felt so impossibly light, yet so slow; her vision swam, and she was even seeing two suns in the sky…
The late evening light seemed to flash.
Suddenly, the Dragon Gate shook. The chains once flying freely froze stiff in the air, before abruptly falling, and quickly rusting away into nothingness.
From deep within the circle, Zekka could hear a horribly terrible, anguished roar, before it too was promptly cut off, as the circle split straight down the center and divided into equal halves, floating apart.
It burst into particles of light not a second later.
"Wait, what…?" The woman uttered, completely and utterly confused.
"So." A familiar voice hummed, "It was you, huh?"
Sensei?
He was right behind the cloaked figure, having nearly a full head over her as he looked down upon her, an eyebrow quirked. He held that odachi off to his side almost casually.
"It was all you." He stated again, as though finally, all the pieces for something were settling into place for him.
For a moment, the cloaked figure froze in place.
Then, a gash of light.
Zekka didn't see her move. Didn't see him move, either.
All she saw was an arc of golden light, and the store was chaos, as though a tornado had abruptly decided to appear within.
She could hear Schwe struggling as she reached down, grabbing Zekka's body, trying to keep her from flying away.
Chairs. Tables. Shards of glass. Remains of the roof. Everything went flying around and past them.
Zekka vaguely caught Schwe using her own body to block her from being hit by a flying table, and wondered where her magic circles went…
As the twister of debris subsided, the center and source was revealed.
The now uncloaked woman's sword was pressed against Sensei's, her two-handed grip on her weapon being held back by Sensei's one-handed, raised odachi.
It was almost casual, the way he held it.
Yet, just barely…she could see it.
The shaking of the two blades as they intersected.
With her cloak down now, they could finally see the woman's face. Platinum blonde hair framed her face and was braided immaculately around her head in the style of a diadem, or maybe even a halo. She was gritting her teeth, her icy blue eyes locked onto their Sensei's golden, spinning ones.
Sensei tilted her head and grinned a smile that made her shiver, as she lay half-faint.
"Well," he began, "maybe you're worth something after all, eh, Charla?"
Charla, so it seemed, twitched at that. "It's Charlemagne, you uncouth pagan…!" She sneered right back.
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Prove it."
And then there was light once again.