Here's the first chapter of Book 1. This is a sequel to Book 0 and takes place after the events of Book 0. The story will make zilch sense if you start reading from the middle. Book 0 is available in my profile if you have M-rated content filtered out.
Here's a 10k worth monster to make up for the last short chapter.
P.S: Book 0 was reclassified as M not because of sexual content, but due to violence that some people may find disturbing with a T rating (especially in the first 3-4 chapters). This fic doesn't contain adult scenes as I simply don't like writing explicit content. Kisses may happen though ^^
Then... without further ado... I present to you my next book's first chapter... Enjoy...
Chapter N1: Back to the Classroom.
"Well, then. Let's begin by investigating this girl by the name Kuznetsova Marina first." (Touma)
"Oh?" (Anna)
"Huh…" (Elaine)
"…? What's wrong, you two?" (Nika)
"Oh, nothing. It's just he picked up the one female candidate without a lick of hesitation." (Anna)
"Ah, it makes sense. I mean, Kamijou-san is a guy, too, y'know? Ehehehe…" (Elaine)
"I doubt that's why he picked her, though…" (Nika)
Anna stole a quick glance at me. I figured I should explain myself.
"I picked her because…" (Touma)
"Because…?" (All Three)
Why indeed. I wasn't quite certain myself.
But compared to the psychotic madness of the Japanese Saint or the one whose identity we know next to nothing about…
"I just imagined that she would be somewhat easier to communicate with." (Touma)
"Oh…! So you're basically saying…" (Anna)
Anna's grin gradually widened.
"…that girls are easier to talk to?" (Elaine)
Elaine said, mustering a frustrated smile.
"Is that so? I wonder…" (Touma)
"Now I feel silly for backing you up…" (Nika)
The three of them glared at me in unison, though I didn't quite understand why.
Hmm…
I wondered if I said something I shouldn't have.
"Anyway. First off, you gotta become her classmates. Touma, Elaine, c'mere for a sec. How about you, Nika? What's your plan?" (Anna)
"Hm… I think I'll be making my way to the library." (Nika)
Anna looked at her with clear surprise.
"Again? I mean, it's not like I mind, but don't you think it's about time you gave up? Considering the number of lost supernatural books and artifacts appearing in the temples lately, your book has a better chance of being somewhere in there than in some library." (Anna)
I could vouch for that fact. Even I acquired the [Joyeuse] from within a temple.
"A number of books recovered during the previous crusade attempts still remain. I need to check them all, just to be sure."
"Are you talking about the Akashic Records?" (Touma)
Nika nodded. That book must have meant the world to her.
The book of Nika the Oracle.
A divine tome containing all esoteric knowledge and wisdom of Creation. An otherworldly ledger chronicling all [Truth] of the world.
"Besides, communicating with others is hardly my forte. I'll be leaving that to you guys." (Nika)
Nika stood up and excused herself.
Anna exhaled a sigh as she watched the Russian girl leave.
"Seriously. A mule would be more cooperative than her. Then again, we're in no position to judge her, being the ragtag group that we are." (Anna)
"A ragtag group? Us?" (Elaine)
"Yup, the raggest of tags! A band of nameless warriors lost to the annals of time, if you want to dress it up a bit. Otherwise, we're basically the cannon fodder unit." (Anna)
"What?! We're not the Peerless Elite Trio of Beauty and Grace?!" (Elaine)
"Nope." (Anna)
"Not really." (Touma)
"Yeah, uh, we're not really meant to be anything other than underdogs, really." (Anna)
"Ugh, at least try to be the kind of group bros dream of, nameless warriors stripped of honor and glory alike, together through thick and thin even in face of Armageddon, their lives bittersweet like black coffee…" (Elaine)
I genuinely had trouble understanding Elaine on certain occasions, including this one.
Either way, we had more important things to discuss.
"Now that I think about it… Anna, what made you want to team up with Nika?" (Touma)
"Hmm. Well, first we decided to band all the religious organizations together, then decided to organize crusades across the temples… I guess it happened during a meeting shortly afterwards." (Anna)
*flashback*
"All right. Everyone, please form pairs. I want to see two Saints in one group." (Kaori)
"Zzz…" (Nika)
"I suppose I'll have Kurylenko-san pair up with whoever remains at the end…" (Kaori)
"Mhn… ngh… I can't eat anymore…" (Nika)
"Whoa, whoa, what's up with this chick? She mumbles trivial nonsense in her sleep like nobody's business!" (Anna)
"Have mercy… I can't eat anymore… nngh… stop… no more food… please… don't stuff it down my throat… gghuu…" (Nika)
"She doesn't seem to be enjoying it one bit, though." (Laura)
"Anyway, I think it's best to let sleeping idiots lie…" (Kaori)
Some time later…
"Zzz… Hm? What is it?" (Nika)
"Seems like I'm your partner now. Name's Anna. Just Anna." (Anna)
"Oh, the Divine Witch of the Night… I'm Kurylenko Nika. And how kind of you to wake me. I was having the most haunting of nightmares…!" (Nika)
"Just what kind of dream were you having, exactly? (Kaori)
"I was a goose in France in the middle of being fattened up to be made into fois gras." (Nika)
"Why would anyone have such an oddly specific and weird dream?" (Anna)
"But the food they gave me was pretty delicious." (Nika)
"Anna-san! Best of luck!" (Kaori)
"Man, I sure suck at rock-paper-scissors…" (Anna)
Anna couldn't help by wail at her misery.
*flashback end*
"And that's more or less the gist of it." (Anna)
"Oh boy… That sort of fills me with certain expectations." (Elaine)
"What kind?" (Anna)
"The comedic kind." (Elaine)
"I can't deny that. Anyway, it's about time we headed out. Go, team! Go!"
Anna pumped her fist into the air.
"GO!" (Elaine)
"…" (the Two)
"…?" (Touma)
The two of them— their fists still in the air— suddenly began starring at me with an uncomfortable expression. I was at loss as to why.
"You do it, too!" (the Two)
"G-Go." (Touma)
As I lifted my fist into the air, their expressions shifted to a satisfied smile. Their respective trains of thought remained a constant mystery to me.
Their moods seemed to be in complete sync, too…
I exhaled a weary sigh, having decided to simply let them do as they pleased. These two… they would be the end of me, seriously.
I kept searching for my book.
I wandered listlessly from shelf to shelf, like a jellyfish drifting under the ocean waves, or like a moth driven to a light driven only by sheer instinct… and kept searching for my book.
I checked volume after volume, desperately looking for a clue to be investigated, a lead to be followed.
This was what me and a past hundred incarnations of me— as the Oracle of Akasha—had done for last several thousands of years.
Where could my book be?
"Good day." (Nika)
I greeted the librarians, the supervisors of this library. They both turned in my direction, sighing with a knowing look in their eyes.
"You again?" (Librarian Male)
"You certainly are a stubborn one." (Librarian Female)
The two students— a male and a female— met my eyes with a cold gaze. They were the librarians…
Well-versed in and willing to teach all arts and magics, the librarians were exceptional magicians capable of freely-manipulating human thought.
To the extent that all the librarians presiding over this library had sacrificed their egos and identities, for the greater purpose of safeguarding and spreading magical knowledge.
They were all part of a large consciousness that formed this Great Library. A gestalt, or hivemind… if you will.
As such… all of them were known simply as the "Librarians" with none possessing a different or independent identity.
"I was free anyway." (Nika)
"Maybe you are, but not us, foolish girl." (Librarian Male)
"Good grief. People these days have no sense of danger?" (Librarian Female)
"Hm? What do you mean?" (Nika)
"Just a short while ago, that "thing" you magicians created came wandering into our establishment." (Librarian Female)
"As it turns out, he was searching for a book with much interest." (Librarian Male)
"Far be it from us to denounce a man's bibliomania…" (Librarian Female)
"…but is this really the time to be reading manga?" (Librarian Male)
"Manga?" (Nika)
Visibly weary of the conversation, the librarians exhaled another sigh.
"Yes, manga— the kind that's published in Japan. He's read every volume he could find from start to finish." (Librarian Male)
"If his aim was to gain knowledge that could be of practical use during his crusade, I could understand it." (Librarian Female)
"But manga? Not a reliable source for information, I'd say…" (Librarian Male)
Yet another sigh followed. Initially perplexed as to how I ought to respond, I soon concluded that I had no obligation to do so.
He resembled the original only in name. Other than that, he was a complete stranger.
"Is Seth still here?" (Nika)
"No, he went somewhere else once he was done with his reading." (Librarian Male)
"Taking Azura along with him, if I might add." (Librarian Female)
"Hmm. Well, I'll be staying here for a while, then." (Nika)
"Do as you like." (Librarian Male)
The two librarians promptly resumed sorting through their archives.
Well then.
I directed my gaze from the library floor all the way to towards the ceiling, taking in a set of massive bookshelves looming above like makeshift imitations of buildings.
The largest library in the world— was no longer the library of Congress in America, but the Library of Genesis in St. Maurice, France.
The combined effort of almost all magical organizations in Europe, the library was literary perfection given form.
In here, gravity was regulated by an underground magical array, preventing any books from ever falling to the ground. Which also meant that the librarians have to collect the few stray volumes drifting through the air in order to return them to their respective places.
A calm stillness permeated the air, lacking in sanctity yet hardly quiet enough to be considered unsettling. I enjoyed being here.
I leapt onward, soaring through the air, having already memorized the exact location of each and every book I had once read in this library. The only question on my mind was what to open up next.
"The genre here… ah, yes… World History." (Nika)
The field of world history was no longer united as it once was.
Ever since the appearance of the temples and consequent discovery of phases with alternate worlds, one would need hundreds if not thousands of books to chronicle all that alternate history— which was exactly what had happened here.
Meticulously chronicled books penned by famous magicians and alchemists containing wisdom and history of numerous alternate worlds. A literal mountain of them.
"I would say that is a good thing." (Touma)
I remembered that Touma let a bitter smile creep up onto his lips as he told me that. Back in his world, he, too, must have borne witness to the clash of multiple histories: altered pasts vying for dominance over even more altered ones.
I myself had come to see many examples of such things.
People's arguments over which team had won a sports match escalating to all-out war, to cite one example.
When viewed from outside, a myriad histories of countless worlds in the catbox existed unitarily. However, that was not the case to the people living in said worlds.
One's own history mattered the most.
A mindset harbored by the majority of humans; a mindset powerful enough to foolishly drive them to spill each other's blood.
…No, I shouldn't have called it foolish.
I smiled, conscious of my own situation. Had I not been just as much as a fool myself, sparing no expense whatsoever in my search for that book?
"No clues, huh…" (Nika)
I lifted a book off the shelf, swiftly leafed through its contents, then put it back— all in the span of five seconds.
I repeated that action countless times, never caring to stop and re-read earlier volumes. The moment I looked at a page, it became embedded in my mind completely.
The librarians observed my continued efforts with visible amazement.
They had never in all their countless years seen anyone devour books at such a staggering speed.
Well, fundamentally speaking, I cared little for how others perceived me.
"And by saying that, you're basically admitting that you're exceedingly bothered by the gaze of others." (Anna)
Upon remembering my unlikely companion's former quirp, my fingers halted their super-fast browsing.
"Well, I guess you're still not conscious of it yourself, so it's fine. But once you are, things will get rough." (Anna)
I shook the image of my mischievously giggling friend out of my mind. I needed to focus on these books, not old memories.
"Hm…?" (Nika)
My finger reflexively stopped at a certain page. Even if my mind had stored all this data in pristine condition, I couldn't help but come to halt upon encountering such a shocking piece of information.
"This is…" (Nika)
A mere history book, chronicling the events of one world out of many. Yet it differed from the rest on a certain point.
"…Touma's world." (Nika)
The memory of that day lived on in me vividly— the moment when Anna decided to "rescue" a certain person from a certain world she'd encountered.
When Anna went on to investigate the history of that world, she broke out in cold sweat, in a way very uncharacteristic of a person like her.
"I think we may have invited a wolf into our herd." (Anna)
She even went as far as to say something like that.
When, guided my Anna, I arrived in that world, I beheld complete and utter ruination.
The scene unfolding before me dwarfed in intensity even the heavenly destruction that once rained down upon Sodom and Gomorrah. The weapons of Science had reduced entire continents to charred ash, leaving nothing but desolate ruins in their wake.
One would have difficulty even locating a complete corpse of the deceased. Hoping to find survivors was a fool's errand at best.
Yet Anna was firm in her conviction, confident that he was indeed alive.
"In a place like this?" (Nika)
"In a place like this." (Anna)
We took to the skies at full speed— there was hardly any need to hide ourselves— flying to his side.
Kamijou Touma merely gazed at the unfolding death and destruction before him with a gaze bereft of any and all emotions.
And that's how he and I met. He accepted both Anna's invitation and the existence of parallel worlds. We needn't even teach him how to fight.
Anna called him expendable.
If Seth was to be a divine sword forged through combined efforts of mankind's greatest magicians and alchemists, then Kamijou Touma was no more than a mercenary's steel, simple and coarse.
"And one day that mercenary's steel would end up being honed and sharpened to a point where it ceased to be anything but a fearsome monstrous blade: one that could cut even that high and vaunted so-called divine blade in half, its power far beyond any man's reach." (Anna)
I had previously enquired about Touma's past, yet Anna refused to say a word.
She claimed that he might end up getting persecuted if the truth came to light.
And, so I had given up on receiving an answer.
"Kamijou Touma…" (Nika)
His name spilled forth my lips without me even realizing it.
"Kurylenko Nika…" (Librarian Male)
"Did you just whisper a boy's name?" (Librarian Female)
The Librarians were oddly very much receptive to such things. I stared back at them, cocking my head to the side in confusion.
"I…whispered a name?" (Nika)
"You certainly did." (Both Librarians)
"For the record, the romance genre is just down that corner, about 525 meters to the right." (Librarian Female)
"Of course, if you wish to be beyond platonic, the section of erotic literature and doujinshis would be—" (Librarian Male)
"I'm leaving." (Nika)
Using the nearest male librarian's head as a springboard, I vaulted into the air. Ignoring the variety of expletives they shouted my way, I exited the library.
Still…
I myself failed to notice how I had uttered his name.
"Hmm…" (Nika)
I floated down the hallway, wrestling with waves of odd, unfamiliar emotions.
The students I passed turned to look in my direction with visible surprise. Odd. Had I done something to invite their gazes?
"Stop floating in the hallway, you klutz! You're scaring the normal people here! Place your foot on the ground, slow down and WALK!" (Kaori)
…Oh.
I seemed to have angered Kaori. She was positively fuming.
I suppose it was time to meet this so-called telesma-devouring student.
We all sat in the classroom, with Elaine right next to me. We were introduced to the class not as transfer students— instead, things had been set up so that we had always been students here.
I have to admit that Nika's magic was highly convenient.
Our presence in the classroom was mainly ignored with our noisily chattering classmates— in a way— both looking at and through us like they weren't even registering our presence as abnormal.
Looking at them, no one could tell that these were all magical mannequins created by Anna.
While their combat powers were low when compared to other Saints, their magical proficiency was nothing to laugh at.
The phantoms were life-like, completely indistinguishable to my weak 5 senses. Even with careful scrutiny I couldn't find anything off with their appearances or personalities, for that matter.
"M-My nerves are killing me…!" (Elaine)
Elaine's fingers toyed anxiously with the hem of her skirt. Noticing her distress, I decided to say something that could possibly ease her tension.
"I heard about this technique from Anna, it apparently helps if you pretend to write a person's name in your palm, then pretend to put it in your mouth."(Touma)
"Oh, you're right. I know about that." (Elaine)
The method seemed really popular in other worlds, even though it never existed in mine.
"Chomp"
Nor did I ever recall seeing anyone trying to swallow their entire fist.
"Ghm… mghhgh…" (Elaine)
"Elaine. You're overdoing it."(Touma)
"Pah! Ugh… my hand's all sticky now…" (Elaine)
Well, of course it is…
As I met her antics with a sigh, I took note of a soft giggle from somewhere nearby.
I turned around and froze in place almost immediately. The exact person we had been looking for was sitting right there, smiling at Elaine.
Kuznetsova Marina.
She gazed at us with a smile as warm as a spring breeze, emanating an aura of feminine elegance.
"Is something wrong, um… Elaine, was it?"
"…" (Elaine)
Startled by how abruptly she appeared, Elaine's brain had completely locked down. She merely gazed back at her with confusion, her mouth agape.
Having seemingly misunderstood Elaine's reaction, Marina's face took on a shade of confusion.
"O-Oh? Did I get the wrong person, by any chance?" (Marina)
I promptly poked Elaine's side with my elbow. That seemed enough to galvanize her into action, as she proceeded to shake her head with renewed vigor.
"Ah, no! Not at all! I'm Elaine Le Fay, apparently 16 years old and a Cancer with a B-type blood! A-And a natural beauty, too!" (Elaine)
I couldn't quite explain why, but I suddenly felt this immediate urge to karate-chop her on the head.
"Uuugh." (Elaine)
"That's one too many lies, I would say. Did you regain your composure fully now?"(Touma)
"U-Um… are you all right? I mean, physically, mentally, and emotionally…" (Marina)
"A-Ahem! Hello, I'm Elaine, perfectly sound of mind and soul. Wait, was that a thinly-veiled insult?" (Elaine)
I would not be surprised.
"And you are, um…" (Marina)
"Kamijou Touma. You're Kuznetsova Marina, right?"(Touma)
"Um, yes… that's me." (Marina)
"Howdy and nice to meet you! I mean, I know we're classmates and all, but I can't help feeling like total strangers, you know?!" (Elaine)
"Is that so…? O-Oh, my. Now that I think about it, I don't believe we've ever talked. I'm really sorry." (Marina)
"Oh, no need for an apology. We've had our reasons as well, if I'm to be perfectly frank. Well, uh, I guess what I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't worry about it." (Elaine)
"Hmm… even if that were to be the case, you still sat right next to me. How come we've never once talked…?" (Marina)
We must have gone a little overboard with how convenient we had made our seating arrangements.
"D-Don't sweat it, alright? We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other from now on! Right?" (Elaine)
"Yea…." (Marina)
"Oh, I see! Well then, Marina. Any hobbies?" (Elaine)
"Hmm… Horse riding and the violin, I'd say." (Marina)
"Yes, full-on bourgeoise!" (Elaine)
Elaine was bursting with energy. She must have been the type to talk loudly and passionately in a conversation.
"Horse riding and the violin…? Does that mean you own a horse of your own?"(Touma)
"Ah, no. I merely go riding as part of my club activities. Have you not heard of the Horse-Riding Club?" (Marina)
I nearly forgot that this was an actual educational institution. As such, it is only natural that there would be a lot of clubs. Even ones very specialized in nature: like the Horse Riding or the Music Club.
"Not yet… Would you care if we joined you for an occasion?"(Touma)
"Not at all. You're very much welcome!" (Marina)
"So, um… Marina?" (Elaine)
"I'm amazed how rapidly we've become friends… Yes, Elaine? What is it?" (Marina)
"Tell me your magic name?" (Elaine)
"…?" (Marina)
"…" (Touma)
"…" (Elaine)
"Errm… what is that, exactly?" (Marina)
It was a response I wasn't expecting. I was expecting her to be flabbergasted, or even turn hostile. But not this one.
She was a Russian Saint. So, I assumed that there was no way that she doesn't have a magic name.
That assumption was wrong.
…This was because the person before me was in a state before she became a saint... or even a simple magician for that matter.
The outcome let me conflicted, because I had presumed that Saints were born with inherent powers… which was proven wrong as well.
So, to sum it up, the Kuznetsova Marina in front of me was not even a magician let alone an overpowered Saint.
I wonder how Nika managed to achieve something convenient like this.
Connecting personalities to a fake body is amazing in and of itself, but connecting a body to a past personality: that was something else entirely.
No wonder that despite lacking firepower, Kurylenko Nika was able to maintain her position as a ranked Saint.
So, we were dealing with a "civilian" Marina, here. That really helped me put things into a broader perspective.
"Oh, it is nothing. Pay no attention to her. In any event—"(Touma)
Hm, how would I explain this? I pulled up the most appropriate example from the thousands upon thousands of conversations I had stored in my mind.
"I simply wish to know everything about you."(Touma)
"A-And why would you want to do that?" (Marina)
Marina retreated a few steps with eyes ready to cry, hugging her own body. I could have sworn I had made the correct choice.
BAAAAAM.
"You don't need to listen to a word from this crazy son of a gun, trust me!" (Elaine)
Elaine followed that up with a punch to my abdomen. Seeing how I wasn't in my combat mode, it hurt quite a bit.
"He certainly is a unique young man…" (Marina)
Marina giggled to herself, having regained her composure.
"Well, anyway, let's just take it slow from here, alright?" (Elaine)
Elaine extended her hand towards Marina, who returned the gesture with a nervous laugh and a frantic wave of her hands.
"…?" (Elaine)
"Please forgive me. I'm not accustomed to being touched by other people." (Marina)
She retreated another step. Elaine mouthed a brief "oh, I see" in an understanding tone as she pulled her hand back.
This was no mere act on Marina's part. I understood that very clearly. She genuinely refused us due to a certain trauma she must no doubt have been wrestling with.
Revulsion, or maybe fear, possibly?
I had a difficult time trying to read her expression.
*bell chimes*
"Oh, class is about to start." (Marina)
Marina promptly walked back to her desk and sat down. Seemingly, as if on cue, the entire classroom got quickly enveloped by silence.
"Ugh, dammit, I totally forgot… We do actually have to take classes now, huh…" (Elaine)
Confirming the evident, Elaine threw herself down on her seat, completely dejected.
Hmm… classes, huh…
"I've never actually taken a class before. Are they truly that boring?"(Touma)
Elaine shot a look of confusion my way
"You've never taken a class?" (Elaine)
"I've only had private tutoring."(Touma)
Is that what I was to call it? I had all the necessary knowledge simply implanted into me. Semantics aside, I had never experienced learning in an environment like this.
"Well… just sit tight and keep your eyes open. Works like a charm every-time. Oh, the teacher's here." (Elaine)
Sit tight and pay attention, was it?
That sounds rather doable.
"Heya, kiddos. Ready for another fun day of learning? By the way, if any of you want to file a lawsuit or be arrested, don't hesitate to ask me. I'll lawyer for you at a discounted rate."
A robust-looking teacher stepped into the classroom, proclaiming all that with the broadest of smiles. Most people would simply dismiss his proclamation as a quirky joke.
However, I was not "most people." After all, I knew his true identity as one of the strongest magicians on the planet.
"Say whaaaaaaaaat?!" (Elaine)
Nearly stripped of all composure, Elaine let out an ear-piercing yell. All gazes in the room fell upon her in an instant.
The teacher himself looked at her in great surprise.
"Hey now, you okay there? Wait, were you arrested? Maybe you wanna sue? Or want to be sued?" (Professor Fishbourne)
"Ah, um, no. But… is that really you, Professor Fishbourne?" (Elaine)
"Professor Fishbourne" nodded in response. That must have been his alias as a teacher here. Still I knew his real name all too well.
Despite not being a ranked Saint, the person before me was Albert Magnus—Archtreasurer of Great Britain and the Commonwealth as well as the fourth strongest magician on the planet.
He carried the title of the [Worthless One].
Aside from his double life as a magician, he was one of the most acclaimed jurists of the International Court of Justice.
There were even talks that his son— Stiyl Magnus— was a prodigy that might one day overshadow even his most illustrious father.
Stiyl Magnus had already secured his position as a direct assistant to Necessarius' leader— Kanzaki Kaori herself.
"Yes. I'm Fishbourne. What's gotten into you, Elaine Le Fay? Feeling like a transfer student all of a sudden?"
Albert flashed a hearty smile. He knew all about who we were and what we were after.
But now that Elaine had all this attention…
"Oh, you wouldn't believe it! Gosh, it's just I had this horrible nightmare…" (Elaine)
"How is that relevant here? We're in the middle of morning assembly, you know." (Professor Fishbourne)
Exhaling a weary sigh, Albert made his way to the back of the classroom.
"Anyway, don't sit down." (Professor Fishbourne)
"Y-Yes, sir…" (Elaine)
Marina and a number of other classmates giggled while Elaine flushed red as a lobster. We needed to talk to her after class.
Ten minutes passed before Albert allowed Elaine to sit back down, prompting a quick sigh of relief to escape my lips.
I paid attention to the class for the rest of the day.
"And with that, class is over." (Professor Fishbourne)
The very moment Albert left, the classroom regained its former boisterousness.
"Elaine. Do you have a minute?"(Touma)
"Ah. Sure." (Elaine)
We stepped into the hallway.
"What's up?" (Elaine)
"Actually, that's what I would like to ask myself. Was there something about that teacher? Did you see something?"(Touma)
"Ah, I see. Yeah, I kinda did. But that was not why I was surprised." (Elaine)
"Then what?"(Touma)
Elaine told me all about the circumstances surrounding the illusionary sanctum that Elizabeth Bathory had used to trap her— the same situation that brought us together.
"Are you saying that he showed up in that temple world?"(Touma)
"Yup. That was why I was so shocked back then. Now that I think about it, this dream I had… or rather the one I had been locked in, actually featured Anna as one of my classmates." (Elaine)
Her tone implied that Anna's appearance in the dream was hardly anything to be surprised by.
"Oh, right. I checked out Professor Fishbourne, and he seems to possess this really amazing power. He's not some regular old teacher, is he?" (Elaine)
"Albert Magnus. That's his real name. He is one of the strongest magical existences on the planet."(Touma)
"Whoa… M-Man, that explains why his magical energy flow seemed absolutely colossal." (Elaine)
Elaine nodded to herself in a comprehending fashion.
"Was he really all that powerful?"(Touma)
"Stronger than Anna, as far as I could tell. Compared to you, hm, I dunno. I'm having a hard time determining how tough you are." (Elaine)
Powerful. Hm.
Well, of course, he would be. He is one of the strongest magicians, after all.
"Out of curiosity, who else showed up in your dream?"(Touma)
"Let's see… well. I was first scolded by Professor Fishbourne. Then came Anna under the name Christina Laurence. Next up… uh… right, it was a couple." (Elaine)
"A couple?"(Touma)
"Yeah. Oh, now I remember, He called himself Sey Thatcher." (Elaine)
"And what was he like?"(Touma)
"Hmm… He spoke in a dry, monotone voice and had this icy aura about him." (Elaine)
"I see…"(Touma)
"But he sure was good looking. Like a certain B-type Cancer around here." (Elaine)
"You seem to like that joke a lot, do you not?"(Touma)
I smiled and was about to return to the classroom when I felt the very air around us chill.
"Kamijou-san?" (Elaine)
I turned around, finding myself arrested by a nightmarish sensation; a feeling I couldn't for the life of me describe.
A fated encounter.
The kind of miracle man seldom experiences.
I may have my head in the cloud at times, but even I— Elaine Le Fay— could comprehend the sheer improbability of a force like "fate" miraculously guiding people to each other.
Labeling everything as the work of "fate" was akin to entrusting all aspects of one's life to God, or rather… the whimsy of an invisible, unknowable being.
Take my meeting with Kamijou Touma, Anna, and Nika, for example.
While that encountered may have bordered on the miraculous, what truly counted as such was the fact that I had been in the right place, at the right time. Our meeting itself was inevitable.
Had I not ran all across that campus in panic, I would never have been rescued.
Had someone else been in my place, they would have been saved just the same.
In other words…
That meeting could hardly be labelled as a "fated encounter." It was anything but.
And so my line of thinking went a bit like this.
Such an encounter would only occur once in a person's life.
A fated meeting with a person who would entice you in mere seconds. Someone to kindle a flame in your heart; someone you could readily yield yourself to.
Or perhaps a rival.
A person who would set your wrath ablaze in mere seconds. Someone to fuel your animosity; someone you could never find common ground with.
On this day, fate would grant such an encounter not to me, but rather…
"…Seth."(Touma)
…to Kamijou Touma.
The man's eyes shot straight ahead, brimming with unparalleled confidence. A young woman trailed behind him with a downcast gaze, occasionally stealing a look or two at her companion.
I felt thoroughly overwhelmed by their very presence, though not due to our prior meeting in Lizzy's dreamscape.
Quite the opposite, in fact
These two were nothing like their counterparts from my dream.
It almost felt like comparing fool's gold to the real thing. Or gazing into the glitter of a scientifically created artificial diamond.
The difference between the insect that crawls on the earth and the falcon soaring the high skies.
Seth. And Azura.
They were beings far beyond my comprehension, that much I could understand.
I gulped.
My entire being was assaulted by a rare feeling of unrest as I observed the pair making their way down the hallway. For once, my heartbeat picked up the pace, and I felt it impossible to shake off the waves of unease creeping up on me.
No one told me… but with a mere glance I could tell…
Having a reason for existence is a must for a magician or a Saint. Without a compelling reason, there will be no wanting. And with no wanting, there will be no need for any magic.
One would need to properly articulate it into a word— to sculpt their longing into a phrase called a magic name— in order imprint their desire upon the world.
Otherwise, it was doomed to failure. Yet the person before me was different. He was a sole exception to this rule.
He simply existed. And through that fact alone, he had asserted his very being— he was his own reason for existence itself given flesh.
That was Seth.
"…?" (Seth)
Seth glanced in my direction; I stood petrified as he sized me up with a colorless gaze.
"Pardon me, but… have we met somewhere before?" (Seth)
Seth opened with those words, to which I replied by shaking my head. I had never met him before.
I had only heard of him.
"I see. My name is Seth. Who do I owe the pleasure to?" (Seth)
"Kamijou… Touma."(Touma)
Seth's expression changed into genuine surprise upon hearing my name. Hm. So he did know of me.
"I see… we have yet to meet face to face." (Seth)
"It would appear that way."(Touma)
"Nonetheless, I'm confident we would have eventually run into each other somewhere in this wide world." (Seth)
"As enemies?"(Touma)
Seth knit his brows.
"What reason would we have to antagonize each other, exactly?" (Seth)
None. There wasn't any.
But I couldn't help but want to have one.
"None… I think."(Touma)
"Get in my way, though, and I shan't stay my hand; that's the only rule we ought to operate by. Do you not agree?" (Seth)
"I do…"(Touma)
"Then we have nothing more to discuss." (Seth)
Seemingly having lost all interest in me, Seth proceeded to direct his gaze at Azura. She stayed at the side of the hallway a short distance behind him, possibly in an effort to not stand out.
"Let's go." (Seth)
"Okay…" (Azura)
Azura curtly nodded in Elaine's direction, then hurried off after Seth.
That man was blind to the world.
Surrounded by his mission, his duties, and his goals… my existence was of no greater importance to him than a pebble in the sand. In his mind, the moment we parted, I ceased to exist…
"Kamijou-san? Kamijou-san? Earth to Kamijou-san!" (Elaine)
"Ah, sorry. What is it?" (Touma)
Elaine's words jolted me back to reality.
"Nothing much. Your expression turned awfully grim for a second is all…" (Elaine)
"Grim…? Me?"(Touma)
It did?
Elaine nodded, much to my surprise. It would appear I had been agitated enough to let my feelings show.
"Chin up, Kamijou-san. I'm mostly basing this on my feminine intuition, but I have a feeling the two of you will meet and confront each other again some day." (Elaine)
"You think so?"(Touma)
I'm a pacifist. I would rather avoid violence if possible.
But the feeling just now…
Was that my blood boiling? Did I long to confront him that much? To do battle with him? To… fight him to the death?
"Yup. I mean, he's your…" (Elaine)
Elaine went on, his expression grave and serious.
"…fated rival. I can tell." (Elaine)
Fate?
I recalled what I felt in his presence— a sensation transcending dread, awe, or sheer animosity.
Yet there was no reason for me to hate him, or to seek his hate. I just hated him simply for the reason of hating him. That was the reason in and of itself: like how two newly hatched queen bees always duel each other to the death just to assert their complete dominance over their hive. I felt it was simply evolution at work.
A fated rival…
To me, Seth was indeed a man deserving of such a title.
Elaine's words had inevitably made me realize that.
The moment we stepped back into the classroom, Kuznetsova Marina saw our entry and greeted us with a warm smile.
"Welcome back." (Marina)
"Hi, Mom. What's for dinner?" (Elaine)
Marina was left a bit perplexed by Elaine's joking tone. I observed her with a tiny bit of suspicion.
"Sorry! It was just a joke." (Elaine)
And a moment later, Elaine broke character explaining herself.
"It was? A-Ah, I'm sorry I couldn't react properly." (Marina)
"Oh, you don't need to do that. I was just fooling around. Anyway, what's the next period?" (Elaine)
"Err, I believe… it was math." (Marina)
We sat down at our respective desks, getting ready for the next class while Elaine began chatting with Marina.
I would have never been able to get this close to her by myself.
We had our next break after a mostly eventless class.
"Alright, I gotta know. What's your type of ideal guy?" (Elaine)
"Well. I have a type of horse I'm fond of, but…" (Marina)
"Oh, I see! You're into horse-faced dudes." (Elaine)
"I'd say that's a little bit… no, tremendously off the mark!" (Marina)
"But aren't the two kinda similar?" (Elaine)
No. Not at all.
"You see, I haven't really talked to boys much before." (Marina)
"Gotcha. Feel free to use this, then." (Elaine)
Elaine grabbed me by the shoulders and promptly shoved me in front of Kuznetsova Marina.
"H-Hello, I'm "this."(Touma)
"I appreciate the gesture, but…" (Marina)
She once again rose from the seat and took a step back. Why, you're very welcome!
"You're so pretty, though." (Elaine)
"That doesn't matter. I'm just afraid of men— of people. I don't understand them, nor do I… wish to." (Marina)
Rejection, and a refusal to understand. Hmm.
Either way, we spent the rest of our break chatting about inconsequential things.
As all classes had ended and other students began to leave, I decided to call out to Kuznetsova Marina once again.
"Do you mind if I visit the Horse-Riding Club?"(Touma)
"Oh, not at all." (Marina)
"Elaine, are you coming?"(Touma)
"Oh, absolutely!" (Elaine)
"Very well. Seeing how I'm the only member, I very much welcome the added company." (Marina)
Marina grabbed her bag and left the classroom, with both Elaine and myself in tow.
The hallways had been tinted a gentle hue of orange by the setting sun, with only a few stray students making noise in the distance.
Marina made her way through the hallway while absentmindedly admiring the scenery through the windows. After a minute or so, she abruptly came to a stop.
"Um. Elaine, Touma?" (Marina)
"Yeah?" (Elaine)
"Hmm?"(Touma)
She tapped her palm upon the nearby window, gently tapping the glass as if to confirm something.
"Don't be too shocked when I ask this, but… don't you find this reality to be somewhat… fake?" (Marina)
"Huh…?!" (Elaine)
"Hmm…"(Touma)
Fake, huh.
"Personally, I do. I find every day spent here to be a lie, a fabricated illusion, thinking that reality must be different. I constantly feel that way." (Marina)
"I, too, toy with such thoughts from time to time."(Touma)
"M-Me too… yup, I do, too!" (Elaine)
Hearing that Marina turned around to face us with an innocent smile, happy to have been able to meet like-minded individuals.
"Really…? The three of us must really be alike, then!" (Marina)
"Possibly. Tell us, though: what made you first feel that way? Was there anything that… triggered it?"(Touma)
"Hmm… how long it has been? I seem to have forgotten. One day, I suddenly began to feel suspicious of my surroundings." (Marina)
She found her reality to be off. Realizing that there was something positively wrong about it.
"When I told my classmates about it, they only made fun of me." (Marina)
No student would ever come to such a realization without a certain event to serve as a trigger. Even a novice like me could tell that much. Anna's magic was nearly immaculate to the extreme.
"So, you found the world odd. How so? …Like being in a dream?"(Touma)
"No, not quite that way… I think. But rather a feeling that this place was far more cruel and harsh, yet at the same time, infinitely more kind and perfect than reality itself." (Marina)
She let out another soft giggle.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you. In any case, let us move on." (Marina)
I felt like I was getting closer to her truth and wished to continue the conversation, but refrained from doing so as acting too forceful here would only end up hurting her feelings.
"Please wait here for a second. I'll go get my horse." (Marina)
Once Marina had disappeared inside the barn, Elaine and I cast our gazes at the crimson skies above.
Depending on the person, the same sky can either be wonderful or alienating.
It all depended on the perspective of the person viewing it.
"Kamijou-san. Do you think Marina realizes the truth of her existence here?" (Elaine)
"Yea. I'm sure that is the case. I don't understand how it is possible. Anna's illusory magic is almost infallible. I don't understand how she can find a flaw in such a perfect system. Perhaps, it is her other self's status as a guardian that is causing her to have these kinds of revelations. However, Elaine, there's something about her that makes me uneasy."(Touma)
"Yeah. We should use this opportunity to get closer to her during the evening." (Elaine)
"If I am to be completely honest, our social skills are on different levels. Would you mind doing the talking for me?"(Touma)
Puffing up with pride, Elaine assured me that she'd take care of it.
A moment later I noticed something unusual in the corner of my vision.
"Nika…?"(Touma)
Nika was trotting about the nearby field with a certain object (a signboard?) hanging from her neck.
"Oh. You're right. NIKKKAAAAAAAA! Over heeeeere!" (Elaine)
"Ah!" (Nika)
As Nika turned in my direction, I could make out the phrase "I am a dunce" clumsily scribbled on the sign she was wearing.
"…" (Elaine)
"…"(Touma)
"Can I… help you with something?" (Nika)
However, she was her usual, aloof self.
"Ahahahaha! What's up with the sign, Nika?!" (Elaine)
As Elaine split her sides with excessive laughter, Nika pouted at us embarrassed, her cheeks flushing red.
"Kaori punished me for using magic in the hallways and made me wear this as punishment." (Nika)
"Can you not take it off?"(Touma)
"I had made attempts, but it appears to be locked in place with some powerful magic. Not the normal ones, though, more like black magic… which means only someone like Anna could help get it off me." (Nika)
"Have you tried asking her?"(Touma)
"Before I had the chance to say anything, she burst out laughing, yelling that she'd never, ever help me get it off. Just you wait, I'm going to exact my vengeance on that b*tch one of these days…" (Nika)
There was something oddly charming about the way Nika cutely uttered the word "vengeance".
But also something oddly unsettling about how passionately she uttered the "b*tch" part.
"We are with Kuznetsova Marina at the moment. If it's not a burden, why not join us?"(Touma)
"I…" (Nika)
"Worry not. If social skills are not your forte, you are not the only one. For the time being, I would say we can safely leave all the talking to Elaine."(Touma)
"What am I, your aide? Well, I guess it's fine. Alright then, the antisocial duo can stay here and watch. I'll take it from here." (Elaine)
"All right. Will do." (Nika)
Nika seated herself on the nearby lawn, responding in the tone of an obedient student.
"Apologies for taking so long…" (Marina)
Dressed in her riding gear, Marina lead the horse our way.
"Oh, my. Who's the young lady?" (Marina)
"Ah, she's Kurylenko Nika. Friend of mine." (Elaine)
Elaine replied with no shred of hesitation.
"I see. Then, she's welcome to stay as well, of course." (Marina)
"Well, um…" (Nika)
Nika was struggling to form a sentence, but the words wouldn't come. Noticing our Russian girl's predicament, I wasted no time in speaking up.
"Sorry! You see, um, she's an exchange student from Russia and, well, not exactly a social butterfly." (Elaine)
"Oh, I see. So, you're from Russia as well? It's always so wonderful to see a fellow countryman in these parts. And you're not the only one with that problem though, Nika. You needn't let it concern you." (Marina)
"Yea. And, thank you…" (Nika)
"Putting that aside, though… what is that sign?" (Marina)
"I used magic… I mean, I ran too fast in the hallways and a teacher punished me for doing that." (Nika)
I wonder if that meant physical punishment. Though, I don't think that's the case. Nika's a Saint as well, and this is Kanzaki Kaori we're talking about.
"Is that so?" (Marina)
Nika drew closer to the horse Marina had been riding and gently stroked its hair.
"Oh? Have you, by any chance, ridden a horse before?" (Marina)
Nika silently nodded.
"I see… Would you care for a ride once I finish a lap? I happen to have a spare riding outfit for visitors." (Marina)
"Can I…?" (Nika)
"Haha… of course you can." (Marina)
"Thank you." (Nika)
"In any case, I'll be off, then—" (Marina)
As Nika retreated a step, Marina lightly kicked into the animal's side and trotted off.
"Wow… they're so pretty…!" (Elaine)
Elaine looked at the two in complete awe, and who could you blame her? Both the horse and its rider were in complete harmony, thus creating a picturesque scene as they trotted across the field.
Once she had completed a full lap, Marina slowed down and lowered herself from the saddle.
"I'll show you to the changing room, then." (Marina)
Marina headed off, with Nika following her at a short distance.
"Nika riding a horse, huh…" (Elaine)
"Is something wrong?"(Touma)
"No, I mean, aren't you excited to see it, Kamijou-san?" (Elaine)
Excitement. I savored the word in my mind, wondering what it meant.
"Is there some sort of pleasure to be gained from seeing her riding a horse?"(Touma)
"Ah, um, well, you don't have to take that literally. I just assumed that boys are into these sorts of things. It's just, how do I put this… well, anyway, you'll understand once you see it, I guess." (Elaine)
I would occasionally face trouble comprehending what Elaine meant. One could say that was one thing I certainly enjoyed to an extent.
Elaine— and most likely all the others— knew things I didn't. While that made me happy, it also made me a little envious
"I will understand when I see it…?"(Touma)
What would I do if I failed to comprehend even after seeing it? In other words, if what Elaine was seeing different from what I saw.
Wait. See..?
"Elaine, you said I would understand once I had seen it. Does that have anything to do with your powers?"(Touma)
As I presented my conclusion, Elaine looked at me like she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. It appeared that she was left astonished.
"Kamijou-san. I was under impression that you were smarter than this." (Elaine)
"I am smart. I merely lack information."(Touma)
As I made my position clear, she merely shrugged, meeting it with a sigh.
"C'mon, don't be so arrogant…!" (Elaine)
Hm. She appeared to have taken it as boasting.
"But I wouldn't want to say I'm ignorant, either…."(Touma)
"The point is this isn't something people say about themselves… Huh? Wait a sec. Is it just me, or did you sound a bit different from your usual tone just now?" (Elaine)
"…No, I didn't."(Touma)
I averted my gaze. I seemingly slipped back into old habits from time to time.
"Oh, um, maybe I'm just imagining things, then? I mean, you did sound sort of monotone before, so maybe that's why." (Elaine)
Elaine shrugged, seemingly not bothered by all this. Hmm.
"Ah, there she is!" (Elaine)
Marina approached us, leading the horse by the bridle. Atop the animal sat Nika, now in full riding gear.
The signboard was nowhere to be seen, either. So, does that mean the sign was attached to her clothes rather than Nika herself?
"…" (Touma)
According to Elaine, I'd understand once I saw it… Hm. Much as I had expected, I was still having a hard time comprehending this.
As far as my feelings were concerned, I wasn't particularly happy. Nor was I sad, for that matter.
"Kuznetsova Marina. I'll be off, then, if you don't mind." (Nika)
"The field is yours!" (Marina)
Nika kicked into the animal's side, which set off at a slow trot, rather than full riding speed.
Still she appeared very much satisfied.
"They look so beautiful, almost like a painting…" (Elaine)
"They do?"(Touma)
"Oh? Don't you think so?" (Elaine)
"I do."(Touma)
The scene was indeed picturesque: Nika and the horse, both showered by orange rays of dusk.
"I know, right? By the way, that outfit sure fits her like a glove. Don't you think she looks cute in it?" (Elaine)
I considered that for a moment.
"I do."(Touma)
I gave her an honest nod.
"….."(Nika)
For some reason, Nika was fidgeting in her saddle. Could she have heard my exchange just Elaine?
"Are you…" (Marina)
Marina abruptly interrupted, her gaze distant and without emotion.
"…friends?" (Marina)
Her atmosphere felt oddly different. Almost as if something changed deep within her.
"Well, sort of. I would say we are close, in a way."
"I see." (Marina)
She went on, her gaze never once leaving Nika and her horse.
"Personally, I don't need people like that." (Marina)
The words were no longer aimed at us. She was talking to herself.
"I don't need it. Not one bit. I never wanted it. In fact, I hate it…" (Marina)
Yet it had become clear that these were her true feelings. Her tone gave no hint of joy, anger, or even sorrow… she simply stated facts.
"…Oh?" (Marina)
By the time she turned to face us, Marina was once again back to her usual, cheery self, with a smile faint as moonlight upon a lake surface.
"Um… is something the matter? I'm afraid I've been spacing out a bit too often lately." (Marina)
"Nothing much."(Touma)
Elaine backed up my curt response with a series of fervent nods.
"Ah, nope. Nothing at all. We were just thinking how pretty you looked in the setting sun. Stuff like that." (Elaine)
And, that's when I heard it— her inner voice— the cold grating of metal upon metal, its clangor violating my ears.
In the next moment, both Elaine and I found ourselves under the onslaught of bluish-white waves.
[How beautiful. Ah, how truly beautiful. And how wretched. How utterly, thoroughly wretched. No, the concept of hate had all but left me. All I feel now is repugnance.]
A maelstrom of turbulent images and sounds enveloped us, violently hurtling a certain someone's innermost feelings our way.
[You despicable monster. You filthy wretched girl. And you, woman— disgusting beyond words.]
Was this how her subconscious registered our presence?
"….!"(Touma)
I shook my head in a conscious effort to dispel that overwhelming rush of emotions.
"Thank you." (Marina)
Marina's words, however, were the afterglow of a tremendous wave tinted in contrastive feelings; hatred and happiness, sorrow and joy all blending into one.
They were broken, succumbed to madness.
That's how Anna and Nika described the so-called guardians. To think how apt that description truly was.
They appeared sound in mind and body alike for the most part. Yet a certain traumatic experience— or certain heart-wrenching memory— prevented them from confronting the damage a part of their soul had suffered.
They would experience something during their crusade that no sane mind could possibly withstand— and so, madness ravaged them, thoroughly and without mercy.
At first glance, Kuznetsova Marina appeared just like any other person. No, not just "appeared"— she was. That, however, only applied to the student self that Anna and Nika created using their powers.
Out there somewhere, the real Kuznetsova Marina— a monstrous Saint with tremendous power— laid in wait, a mere shadow of her former self.
"Oh, welcome back." (Marina)
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a very much normal feeling Marina say that. I looked towards where she was looking, only to find Nika, still on horseback, trotting closer to us.
The horse came closer… and… even closer…
One thing led to another, and I found myself face to face with the horse. It peered at me with a certain animalistic innocence, gently poking my face with its nose.
Then, neighed right into my face.
Its breath smelled odd. Of wildlife and cereal.
"Is this real-life or a picture card…?" (Elaine)
"I've had lots of fun. Thank you." (Nika)
"Oh, don't mention it." (Marina)
"Does it have a name?" (Nika)
"Abd. It's Arabic for 'slave'." (Marina)
…I felt bad for the horse.
"I'll make sure to wash this before returning it." (Nika)
"Oh, okay. Thank you. Either way, I'm going to ride Abd for a little while longer. How about you? Want to ride him some more?" (Marina)
"Oh, I think I'll pass. Actually, I need to go home now." (Nika)
Nika curtly replied as she got down from the animal's back.
"I see…" (Marina)
Marina smiled, and after having taken Nika's place atop Abd, once again kicked the animal's side lightly, then swiftly rode off with a hint of relief coloring her features.
"…" (Nika)
"Something wrong, Nika?" (Elaine)
"There's something I need to look into, so feel free to head back without me. Oh, by the way, I'm thinking curry would be nice for dinner, maybe." (Nika)
"Curry, huh…" (Touma)
"If I have the ingredients, I guess I could whip up something. Oh, but not the genuine Indian kind of curry, that'd be pushing it. If you're fine with the Japanese version…" (Elaine)
"That… That's totally fine. I have tried Japanese curry once before. Its taste was rich and memorable. You know the kind with bits and pieces of potatoes mixed into it. That was totally awesome!" (Nika)
"Elaine, you know how to make Japanese curry? Color me impressed!"(Touma)
I would never have assumed a Lithuanian girl like her to be so knowledgeable about Japanese-cuisine.
"Hehehe~" (Elaine)
"Thank you, Elaine. You've just gained ten more friend points." (Nika)
"On the scale of…?" (Elaine)
"Ten." (Nika)
"Wait a d*mn second. You mean to tell me I've had no points until now?" (Elaine)
Having not expected that, Nika looked at Elaine with a complete poker face. I couldn't quite shake off the feeling that she was trying to fool her somehow.
"Well then, I'll be looking forward to my plate of curry tonight." (Nika)
And just like that she made a getaway through her portal. Elaine shouted a hasty "come back'ere you good-for-nothin' space mage!" but Nika was already gone to hear her.
"Alright, guess I'll be buying an extra bag of chili powder and garlic later today." (Elaine)
"Try not to go overboard, Elaine."(Touma)
That was all I could muster before finally returning to our dorm room.
Guest Reviews and Trivia:
Guest: 1. Kind of, but not exactly. Aureolus Dummy has a physical body made up of base elements. Anna's version isn't like that. It is indeed tangible to a human's 5 senses, but it is simply an illusion. It doesn't have any concrete existence. As such to a normal human, it is completely indistinguishable. Like Anna says… it can sound, smell, and even taste like a normal human… with its personality kinda being "streamed" into it by Nika. True it leads an independent life… but it isn't entirely independent in the sense that it still needs its real version to survive.
2. The story was supposed to be T for the most part. But with the prologue being separated from the rest, I suppose that one warrants an M. Thanks for the heads-up, it's been recategorized ^^
3. I wouldn't say she likes/loves him. Atleast not yet. But it is obvious that she cares a lot for him. It will eventually develop into a romantic relationship only in other books.
That sums it up. And as always, thanks a lot for dropping your review. I appreciate it a lot.
Okay, trivia time:
Not a lot of research was required for this chapter. Only adding and manipulating parts of the story I posted before. I added some parts to the chapter I posted before, and thus I ended up with this almost 10k words monster. I hope it makes up for Book 0's last short chapter.
By the way, Book 1 is a Nika-focused route. I want to wrap my head around a certain ship and let it sail beyond the horizon, rather than leave the story open with a harem ending.
So, until then...
Take care, and read fanfiction~
Sarabada...
~VG~