A groan catches Nina's attention and her eyes dart towards Serene pulling herself up, running as fast as she could before collapsing on her knees before Nina and Merry.

Her neck is covered in dark, protruding veins and they spread as she places a shaking hand on Merry's stomach with a glyph of a crescent moon as she casts: Blessing of the Moon.

Even at Serene's state, she manages to close Merry's wounds, preventing any further blood loss.

The dark veins spread to her fingertips as Serene lays down in exhaustion with much difficulty, breathing heavily.

"Go… get help, Nina," She pleads.

"I'll be honest with you, Miss Urania," Nina despondently replies. "I don't think the villagers would help us. Is there anyway to contact the Blue Rose headquarters?"

Then several footsteps reach the team's ears and Geniva and Nina stand on alert as the Sinow, the mayor, leads several villagers down the stairs to the shrine proper.

"We felt a strong earthquake and saw the Purple Orcas leave but… you didn't. Oh gods, is that Merry?" The mayor rushes to Merry's prone form with a pool of blood under her body.

"It's alright, sir. Miss Urania here closed her wounds," Nina informs.

The mayor and the rest of the villagers look to the rest of the injured team, their valiant efforts in protecting their shrine and saving one of theirs plain to see, and their Blue Rose insignia shines in the streams of daylight.

"Thank you, all of you," The mayor says with sincerity. "I have one last request: you must not share what I am going to show you."

"Of course, sir," Nina wastes no time.

The mayor nods to the villagers and they hesitate. But one last look at the team, most of them fallen and greatly injured, and they move to action.

With a pitcher of water they move through the symbols of the floor that Nina has only noticed now, stretching from staircase to their humble wooden altar but the statue carved into the wall not as humble, a maiden with a vase pouring down water with wings in the place where her ears would be.

A masterful work of sculpture, her eyes actual sapphires and her vase embedded with gold into the stone.

The wooden altar not as humble as one thinks, a cloth placed over the altar with masterful embroidery woven into it, figures of people revering the same maiden that grants them precious water.

A villager pours the pitcher of water over a specific glyph on the floor and the water runs through the symbols on the floor, and as if defying gravity itself it climbs on the wall to the maiden's statue to the constellation above her head, filling with water.

The sapphire eyes of the maiden glow, and the wall pushes itself back to reveal a vault of what seems to be treasure, but to Nina's trained eye, are remnants of an ancient civilization.

Painted potteries, decorative and ornamental weapons, embroidered and aged cloths all depicting the history of an ancient peoples, no doubt the villager's ancestors whose heritage they guard passionately and with good reason.

In the center of it all, a statue of what must be the same maiden figure but without her signature vase, her hands outstretched and her head bowed solemnly and her wings on the sides of her head drooping down, as tears spill from her stone eyes.

Her tears drop down to a stone vessel with sculptures of figures no doubt depicting a story.

Nina has no more time to admire as they are rushed to the revealed statue.

The mayor carries Merry, the villagers carry Serene, Nina leads Amore with her arm across Amore's shoulders, and Geniva carries Ethelrid on her back.

They are all brought to the crying maiden and the villagers each take a bowl shaped in a clam and gathers the water from the vessel that catches the maiden's tears.

They make each injured person drink from their bowls, to the unconscious ones the villagers pour the water onto their lips.

Amore and Serene each taste a sweet and refreshing liquid, as if it hasn't been stagnant in a vessel for ages.

Merry's eyes open to a smiling mayor. "You've done so much for us, Merry. I can't thank you enough."

"Are they… gone?"

"Yes. Thanks to the Blue Rose."

"I told you we could trust them."

Amore's eyes no longer sting, and Ethelrid regains consciousness in Geniva's arms as their eyes open to the splendor of the Ampora village's prized and guarded heritage.

"Woah," Amore's mouth gapes open.

Nina smiles widely.

Ethelrid moves her eyes from the statue to her form leaning on Geniva's chest and Geniva instantly pushes Ethelrid away.

"Don't expect this treatment when you fuck up again."

Ethelrid only huffs and pulls herself from the floor, admiring the painted pictures littered across the walls, a constellation a recurring image in the stories depicted on the walls.

Serene instantly feels rejuvenated as the black protruding veins leave her body entirely as if in one fell swoop. Her heart begins to palpitate and she feels as if a rush of waves fill her veins.

Then her grimoire leaves her holster, and it glows as the pages turn to a blank page, and the script begins to appear. All turn to the glowing spectacle, as Serene reads: Heaven's Rain

"What just happened?" Amore's mouth remains gaping.

"I think… I just got a new spell."

"From the water?" The mayor gasps. "You're blessed by the goddess herself!"

"This goddess…" Nina starts. "Who is she?"

"Her name has been lost to time," The mayor begins. "As with all the old gods, but our elders have always passed down the story of the origin of our sweet water.

A goddess swayed by the tears of a woman who lost her family to famine and so brought rain from the heavens, giving us fertile land and sweet water from a spring that flowed to our rivers.

And it is said from these waters a mage can draw power from the goddess herself.

What is left of that spring is the statue that you see now, dedicated to not only the woman who cried for her family, but also the founder of our people.

What's left of them now is the Ampora village and this shrine."

Nina turns to Serene with conviction in her eyes.

"We can't turn this in to the Magical Studies Department."

"I don't plan to. Far as I know, there isn't much to bring back," Serene replies with a wink.

Nina smiles with hope in her eyes.

"I don't know how to begin to thank all of you," The mayor beams. "Is there anything we can do for you in return?"

"A ride back to headquarters," Serene replies. "And-"

"Food!" Amore pipes up.

With a chuckle, the mayor replies, "Granted."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What do you mean there were no records of a "Stane"?"

"Surely there's at least one Stane in the Purple Orcas."

"And no records of Purple Orca activities in the Ampora village either? None at all?"

"And how could no one recognize my super-accurate portrait sketches?"

"Enough," Captain Charlotte Roselei holds up a hand. Protests from the team ceased immediately.

"I've answered all these questions. Again, there are no records of a "Stane" in their members records, no dealings or interactions with the village or the Sion family, and no apparent matches of the sketches by Fabienne. That is all," Captain Charlotte stated.

"We have several witnesses! That has to count for something," Ethelrid says.

"We've sent the Investigation Department to speak with Ms. Merry, but with no tangible evidence to support it, I'm afraid Ms. Merry's testimony is not enough to hold the Purple Orcas accountable or even deem them suspicious," Pity slightly breaks the Captain's usual stony expression. "I'm sorry, girls. All I could give you is increased taxes on the Sion family."

Ethelrid side eyes Geniva.

"What do you want me to do?" Geniva spats.

"I don't know, use your influence or something," Ethelrid suggests.

"Yeah, like my mother would agree to that."

"I meant you."

"Hmmm…" Just when Geniva was starting to look like she is giving it some thought, she says, "No."

"What do you mean, 'no'?" Ethelrid goes face-to-face with Geniva.

"I mean, I have no fucks to give about the village, so no," Geniva ends with a smirk.

Ethelrid grabs Geniva's collar, hand turning pitch black as she growls, "Why you little-"

Thorny vines envelop the two and separate them with Captain Charlotte stepping in between.

"That's enough. I'm afraid the investigation is over. Back to your quarters, all of you."

The team despondently leave the Captain's quarters, but one of them remains with an equally stony look.

"Urania," Captain Charlotte starts.

"You never dismiss these kinds of cases immediately," Serene states.

"And I don't intend to dismiss this one. I want eyes on their members, including the Captain."

With a smile, Serene salutes and says, "Yes, captain."

Serene follows the others.

"I was really hoping we'd have a successful first mission," Nina says, crestfallen.

"It was a success! We got to beat their asses! I worked hard on those sketches though," Even Amore felt discouraged.

"We did great," Ethelrid tried to comfort. The rest look to her to see if she says anymore, but Ethelrid looks on listlessly.

"Stop lying to us, Ethy. I can see the disappointment in your eyes," Amore poked at Ethelrid's cheek to bring her back to the present.

Ethelrid sighs, "We could've done more. If only someone was willing to help us," Ethelrid grits out, side eyeing Geniva once again.

"Oh, please," Geniva shrugs. "The village got what they want. What else is there to do?"

"I don't know, take down those responsible? Like the Sion family and the Purple Orcas!" Ethelrid exclaims.

"You go fight them then. It's what you're good at."

"I might just fight you now."

"Bring it."

"Alright, alright enough you two," Serene merely pushes herself between the two and flick their foreheads.

"We helped the village keep their shrine from theft and destruction, and at least intimidated the Sion family," Serene encourages with a beam. "So we should still celebrate! Drinks are on me. Pop water's all you get though."

"Woo!" Amore wraps her arms around Ethelrid and Nina. "Lesgo!"

The team leaves with the sound of Serene and Amore's laughter, and Ethelrid looks behind to see Geniva retreating to her room. Ethelrid only glares and turns back to her team and tries to match their cheer.

Geniva slams the door closed and slumps on her bed. She closes her eyes and sees nothing but a figure dressed in servant garb, green eyes looking on coldly as she turns her back to Geniva.

"Don't look at me like that," Geniva says listlessly, half-asleep. "You deserved it. You all do…"

She falls into a restless sleep.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"1." Ethelrid places a 3 of Hearts card. "2." Serene places a 6 of Spades card. "3." Amore places a 2 of Hearts.

They all giggle as they jokingly hover their hands above the stack of cards.

"4." Nina places a 4 of Clubs.

They all scream as they rush to put their hands on the card, and ironically, Nina places her hand last.

They all laugh as Amore goes to smear more gravy into Nina's already grav-ied face.

"Haha, you're so slow Nina!" Amore takes extra care to smear the last dollops of gravy.

They all laugh as they look at each other with their faces equally smeared with their leftover dinner, the others especially cackling at Ethelrid with a broccoli inserted into her nostril.

"Aw, that's the last of our dinner," Serene says after recovering from her fit of laughter.

"Ugh, my stomach hurts," Amore says in between pained giggles.

"Well, kids. That's all the food I can afford. Let's get you all cleaned up," Serene summons a sphere of water, but Amore loudly protests with a "Noooo!"

"Not yet! Not till we're in headquarters!" Amore suggests.

"Are you serious?" Ethelrid flushes.

"You wash your face you get no hashbrowns," Amore waggles a finger.

"Goddammit, fine," Ethelrid chuckles.

"Gods, it'd be so embarrassing… but the hashbrowns were so goood," Nina says.

Serene goes to whisper at Ethelrid's ear, "Isn't Nina the one who steals hashbrowns for Amore?"

"Yeah, but don't remind her."

They share a knowing chortle.

They leave the restobar well into the night with only Serene flushed being the only one who drank alcohol but the others feel just as drunk with laughter.

They step outside to the streets in high spirits but an aged voice calls out, "Help! Thief!"

A man flashes by sliding in ice and Ethelrid nonchalantly plucks him from the ground with a dark tendril. After shaking him like a doll, a bag of gold falls to Ethelrid's hands and she returns it back to the panting old woman tired from her chase.

"Thank you so much, young lady," she gratefully accepts her bag of gold. "You're just like your father."

"Excuse me?" Ethelrid's eyes nearly darkened.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I misspoke. Forgive me."

Ethelrid ignores it and says, "Head home safely, ma'am."

Once they're out of earshot, the old lady morphs into a tall, blonde man in bespoke regalia with a robe of velvet red and lined fur and a certain mark on his forehead.

"I wonder what you'd think of this one, Yami."

With sparkles in his eyes, he excitedly whispers to himself, "That was so cool!"

-end of Chapter 3-

pt. 1 / pt. 2 / pt. 3

Geniva buffers her fall with gusts of wind as Amore buffers hers with blasts of flame and a single knee to the ground kind of pose, startling the three standing at the shrine proper along with a fourth one tied to a chair.

"You're the one who's in big trou-"

Amore is cut off as she feels a sliver of a knife against her neck, but she looks to the side to see a long arm outstretched from an equally long lady and Amore realizes that these were abnormally long nails ready to claw at her neck.

Geniva feels the small give of a needle against her own neck with a weight of what felt like a small animal but in her peripheral vision she sees a porcelain doll in a white frilly dress holding in its little hand a needle bigger than the doll itself.

Geniva can see mana manifested as strings that stretch from doll to outstretched fingers of the man with a scar down his left eye.

"Now, now, dearies," The lanky woman drawls. "Try not to move an inch."

"Where's the rest of your group, hmm?" The stout man saunters over. "Abandoned you already?"

Each of his outstretched fingers excretes slivers of silk and goes to restrain the two Blue Rose tightly with its deceptive strength.

"They're just waiting for the perfect moment to strike!" Amore says enthusiastically.

"Oh? And when will that be?"

A voice behind him says, "Right now."

A punch lands on the man's face before he could turn to the dark figure behind him and Ethelrid steps out of her Stygian Form as she takes hold of the silk thread and infect it as the pure white is tainted with pure black and the silk snaps away, releasing its captives.

Sharp metal feathers fling from metal wings and cuts through nail and doll as their bearers scream in pain.

And before they could recover a glyph of a scale appears on each of the Purple Orca's form as heaviness blooms in their chests.

"Use even an inkling of your mana," Serene warns. "and you will die."

For good measure, Ethelrid whips her manipulated silk threads to restrain all 3 of the Magic Knights.

Nina rushes to the woman tied to the chair, littered with bruises of all colors and fluid has begun to accumulate in her right eye. Despite all this, she seems overjoyed at her rescue at the hands of the Blue Rose.

"Thank the gods you came! I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it."

"Here, let me get you out of this," Nina tries to cut through the silk, but it remains stubbornly intact without even a little give. Nina turns to Ethelrid.

"Would you kindly get this off her?"

Ethelrid hesitates. It takes concentration to keep the Dark Infection spell remain on the silk she's manipulating to keep their captives restrained.

No doubt if she loses her grip, the man would immediately break he and his team free.

"Lemme," Amore rushes forward to the woman and places her hands on the silk restraints.

Her face morphs into pure concentration as her flames slowly envelop the silk, taking great care not to burn the woman. The silk has now been reduced to ash.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you! I knew I can count on the Blue Rose!"

"You sure can!" Amore beams.

Nina fumbles, not knowing what to do with the several bruises littered across the woman's body.

Ethelrid side eyes at Geniva and she rolls her eyes before approaching the woman.

"This will help with the pain," Geniva is surprisingly gentle in both her tone and the way she hovers her hands over the woman. "Don't expect more than that."

A cool breeze envelops the woman and alleviates her labored breathing as she grows more relaxed.

"What's your name, miss?" Nina asks.

"It's Merry. I am - well, was - a maid of the Sion family.

I couldn't stand what that wretched family and their minions were doing to the locals, so I had to do something."

"You're very brave, Miss Merry," Nina beams.

"Oh, don't be so formal with me, I'm not that old," Merry giggles.

"I know you're not, dear," Serene says. "They just happen to be very young."

"Oh! You were all so brave!"

The four young girls can't help but blush.

Ethelrid brushes off her flustered self and turns to her captives with a piercing glare.

"Your names. Now."

"Whatever for? I think we're already well acquainted," the stout man nonchalantly replies.

"I'm reporting you to headquarters, and you'll be answering to your captain for shaming your squad with your misconduct."

"Misconduct is putting it lightly," Nina says.

"Oh, we don't have to worry about that. Our captain will give us nothing but a slap on the wrist-"

"Watch your tongue, Stane," the lanky woman hisses.

"Perhaps more fluid in your heart will loosen your tongue," Serene threatens, her grimoire glowing in preparation.

"Oh? Do it then," the woman sneers.

Serene only glares in response.

"Ha! I knew you were bluffing. You don't have that much control over that particular spell of yours, do you?" the woman cackles.

"But I do," Ethelrid grimoire pulses as the black silk slowly envelops the three Knights in a slowly winding cocoon.

"I'll have you suffocating in minutes. So speak. What are the rest of your names?"

The rest of the Blue Rose team and the battered woman look on in not a small amount of horror.

Perhaps the scarred man just as much so, given his heavy breathing.

"You can't threaten me with my own magic," the man states.

"Are you sure it's your magic right now?" Ethelrid unwaveringly replies.

The man's blank expression slowly morphs to worry as the half formed cocoon tightens.

"You know it's the Sion family who's to blame, right? They were the one who started all this!" The man stutters.

"You're not exactly innocent either. You had a choice not to help the Sion family, but you did."

The scarred man's breathing grows increasingly labored, and it adds to the other man's anxiety.

"But being a Magic Knight isn't exactly a well paying job!"

"Your name, Stane. What's your full name?" The cocoon is starting to reach the man's face.

"Please-"

"This can all end with your name."

"It's-"

"Agh!" Both Ethelrid and Serene cry out in pain as they feel a thick, sharp needle pierce their necks, two small porcelain dolls leap out of their shoulders as they fall to the ground.

The scarred man was struggling all along against the Verdict of Libra spell to summon his two dolls out of the Blue Rose's eyesight, and as Serene falls to her knees the heaviness on the Purple Orcas' chest dissipates.

Ethelrid loses her grip on the silk as she hits the ground turning the silk back to white and the cocoons disintegrate into strands of silk pooling on the Purple Orcas' feet. The silk magic user sighs in relief.

Amore wastes no time, lunging at the Purple Orcas with a kick but the lanky woman slithers around Amore's outstretched leg, grabs her by the collar, and unhinges her jaw to spew venom from her fangs into Amore's eyes.

Amore screams in pain and the woman drops her to the ground.

"Amore!" Nina cries out.

In her panic, Geniva casts her Scatter Arrows. It catches the Purple Orcas off guard, shielding their face with their arms as they are swarmed with arrows ricocheting around the area, hitting both person and shrine.

Nina flies swiftly towards Merry and shields her with her metal Valkyrie wings.

An arrow digs into Ethelrid's shoulder and she cries out. Geniva drops the spell immediately.

Geniva looks on at Ethelrid in worry and behind her the venomous lady lunges at her with her abnormally long nails. But before she could get to Geniva, Nina flings a metal feather at the woman once again, cutting her nails short.

Geniva quickly turns back to the woman and throws a spear of wind at her that she barely dodges just as she feels a light weight on her shoulder.

She's not about to be tricked a second time as she reaches to the back of her shoulder and holding in her clutches another porcelain doll. With some reinforced magic, she crushes the doll in her hands.

She looks to the scarred man, eyes wide at Geniva.

With the porcelain shattered pieces, she flings them at the scarred man at breakneck speed and the man barely manages to shield his face from the shards.

With a quick glance at each other, Nina and Geniva takes a stance to defend their fallen allies.

But they were not fast enough at the flung web of silk that restrains them against the wall.

Neither gusts of wind nor even metal can cut through the sticky web.

"I must say, you younglings put up a good fight," the silk mage admits. "Sad to see your journey end here."

The man raises up his hand to reveal a button on his grip.

"What are you doing?" The woman snaps. "You're blowing this place up with the treasure?"

"We can't risk letting these kids live and run their mouths off to the Investigation Department," the man replies. "Besides, Sion will gladly still pay for getting rid of this cave and opening up a new trade route for him.

"Take what you can. I'm sure those candle holders and other knickknacks are worth something."

"I won't let you get away with this," Merry stands, a lone figure among the fallen Magic Knights with a cactus club in her hands. She roars as she dashes towards the Purple Orcas, but she doesn't get very far before jagged but still sharp nails pierce her stomach, and Merry ragdolls to the ground.

"Pitiful," the woman cackles.

Suddenly, what little light from above that beams down the shrine disappears as an overwhelming pressure draws the remaining standing people to their knees, the ground shaking and crumbling under an invisible force that just as pushes the Purple Orcas from their knees to their whole body pressed against the floor.

It feels like they are about to be crushed against the ground by this overwhelming force.

Darkness has fully taken over but as they bring their eyes up with no small amount of difficulty, one lone form stands, shrouded almost just as much with darkness sans the dark purple aura around her form and the subtle glint of her green eyes.

Ethelrid walks over and bends down to the terrified silk mage to pluck the detonator button from his trembling hands.

And just as suddenly as it came, the darkness disappears and the normal form of Ethelrid still stands, looking down coldly at the Knights below.

However they do it, they rush to escape the shrine, be it scrambling out of the cave and stumbling over stairs or flying out through either string or silk.

Only then does Ethelrid collapse to the ground, black veins from the poison protruding from her skin and spreading down from neck to fingertips, to her eyes.

-end of pt. 3-

pt. 1 / pt. 2

Running down the halls has her stomach jostling the newly eaten breakfast the kind nurse gave them, but Ethelrid was not about to be late to her first mission.

Ethelrid spots her senior and throws a proper salute.

"Ah, no need for that. With me, at least. Reserve that for the captain," she says with a warm smile.

Ethelrid could barely reply with her mind buffering. Her senior's temperament at the moment was a far cry from when they were in the infirmary.

"Aw dammit! You beat me to it Ethy!" Amore whines as she jogs with a bag of hashbrowns. Nina jogs along with her.

Amore wordlessly offers Ethelrid some of her hashbrowns and Ethelrid took three, much to Amore's annoyance.

"Where's your other friend?" Serene asks.

"Oh I think she'll take a while. Been moody since she woke up." Amore says between munches of her crispy hashbrowns.

"I'll go get her," Ethelrid wastes no time briskly walking to Geniva's room.

Ethelrid knocks and is met with a "Go away!"

"C'mon Geniva, we're already running late!"

"Didn't you hear me? I said go away!"

Ethelrid would have gone with some gentle parenting - if she knew how.

Instead, she casts her Stygian Form and she disintegrates into dark sand, weaving her way under the door and goes back to her original form to a screaming Geniva.

"Ew! Get out! What if I was changing?"

Ethelrid flushes. She clearly didn't think about that, but after a quick look Geniva was thankfully decent. In fact, she hasn't changed at all.

"You're coming with, whether you like it or not."

"I'm not."

"Then why the hell did you become a Magic Knight for?"

"None of your damn business. I'm not going."

Ethelrid's vein on her forehead is becoming more prominent. What is she going to do with this petulant child?

"You know, Geniva," Ethelrid starts. "That's exactly what a bitch would say."

Ethelrid could barely turn into her stygian form before she was attacked with a strong gust of wind that hit her body against the door, busting it open.

"I should have expected that…" Ethelrid sighs as she lays on the ground. She sits up to see Geniva preparing a spear of wind primed for throwing.

"What? Are you just going to sit there and take it?" Geniva laughs. "Who's the bitch now?"

"I don't want to fight you."

"I do."

"Please just join us in the courtyard. You're making a scene." Ethelrid looks to the onlookers loitering to see the drama, but a glare from Ethelrid seems to shoo the others away.

"Sounds like what a bitch would say."

"That actually doesn't work on me as it does on you."

Geniva ignores formulating a clever reply in lieu of jamming her spear up Ethelrid's a-

Geniva and Ethelrid's vision contorts and they suddenly hold their breath as they are enveloped in a prison of water. Geniva still swims to go choke the air out of Ethelrid and bubbles do leave Ethelrid's mouth in protest.

"Are you two about done being children?" Serene disappointingly looks to the two currently wrestling in the water.

Ethelrid frantically nods, but Geniva could not give a damn.

The water prison splits the two in separate spheres and Serene releases Ethelrid immediately. Ethelrid flops to the ground, coughs out water and gasps for air.

Ironically, Geniva is struggling for oxygen from moving too much. She stubbornly fights against the water confines until she casts a desperate look at Serene.

Serene releases her immediately, leaving Geniva sopping and coughing.

"I know you're still children, but much is expected of you now that you're Magic Knights.

After all that combat in the examination and you think fighting is all there is to being a Magic Knight?

We are responsible for the well-being of the Clover Kingdom's citizens, not only through protecting them from threats but also through lending our services for upholding their quality of life.

You think you'd do any good berating and choking your teammate? Do you have no shame in front of your fellow squad members and seniors?

And you both came so highly recommended. I'm disappointed."

Serene's grimoire leaves her holster and its pages turn and glows as she casts:

Water Magic: Verdict of Libra

A sigil circle of a scale appears on Geniva's and Ethelrid's form and suddenly pain and heaviness blooms in their chest along with shortness of breath.

"Use any magic, and it will only get worse. Fluid will build up in your heart if you do. You don't want that, do you?"

There is a calm darkness around Serene, holding such unsuspecting power that dares one to underestimate her. Ethelrid dares not try to even tap a single mana in her body. She knows that Serene is not exaggerating.

"You will obey my every command. I will only lift the spell when necessary. Until then, I expect exemplary behavior. Understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," the two replies. Ethelrid looks to Geniva to see fear in her eyes. Ethelrid imagines her own eyes are sporting the same emotion.

They both wordlessly follow Serene to the others. Amore teasingly says, "Ooooh" before Nina slaps her on the back.

They all ride on their brooms, Amore even raising a leg to plant one of her feet on the handle casually.

Thankfully, it seems that using mana to ride on their brooms doesn't worsen the heaviness on Ethelrid's and Geniva's chest.

Ethelrid looks down at the growing distance between her and the ground and she swallows audibly but with difficulty as her chest aches.

A glyph surfaces in front of Serene and water collects around the symbol as she casts:

Compass of Sagittarius

A compass of water emerges and Serene directs the team West.

"The mission is fairly straightforward. The Sion family is requesting to investigate a newly immerged dungeon that has blocked their vital trade route to the Heart Kingdom.

Often a concentration of mana forms the dungeon and said concentration of mana often come in the form of a magical artifact.

So we go in, take the artifact and the dungeon will no longer obstruct the trade route."

"I beg your pardon, Miss Urania, but don't new dungeons often spike in mana?" Nina pipes up.

"Captain Charlotte said that there were no spikes of mana detected according to the Magic Investigation Department. Are we really dealing with a dungeon here?"

"We shall see for ourselves," Serene replies.

Nina's troubled expression does not leave her face and Serene noticed.

"Is there something wrong, Nina?"

"I just… don't feel comfortable taking a magical artifact from a dungeon. It feels like stealing! I believe artifacts must be kept untouched.

Imagine the discoveries that would be made after careful study that wouldn't be possible if the artifact was just sold for a heavy price."

"Don't worry," Serene reassures. "All artifacts are collected and stored by the Magical Studies Department. All artifacts end up in their good hands."

"There's a Magical Studies Department?" Nina's expression seems to brighten.

"Oh yes. They even have exhibits, if you like to visit sometime."

Nina eyes widen and turn to the others.

"Of course we'll go with you, Nina." Ethelrid says.

"Who could say no to that face?" Amore goes to squish Nina's cheeks.

"Boring." Geniva rolls her eyes.

"I'd say with your enthusiasm you would certainly be welcomed by the Magical Studies Department, Nina," Serene says.

"Oh… oh I don't think I'll be accepted, but thank you," Nina says, dejected.

"I'll vouch for you. If you truly want to go in," Serene encourages.

Amore has been pouting the whole time before she pipes up, "You're not leaving m- us for the MSD, are you?"

"Oh no, no dear! I think I'm happy being where I am right now. I barely even started becoming a Magic Knight. It'd be a waste to back out now," Nina reassures, "Plus-" she pauses.

"Who else would be stealing hashbrowns for you for breakfast?"

"Damn right!"

"Alright, settle down, we're here," Serene goes to descend to what seems like an opening of a cave, and from a distance flashes of purple stand out among the greenery.

"The Purple Orcas?" Three of them, Ethelrid observed. Not anyone she knows, though she barely even knows the rest of the Blue Rose.

They seem to be too distracted talking among themselves to notice the team descending until Serene called out, "Hello!"

They startle, surprised at their presence.

"Ah, the Blue Rose," a woman of tall and lanky stature replies. Her purple robe feels almost too small for her size.

"We were not expecting… company."

"Neither did we. Perhaps this can work to our advantage. Strength in numbers and all that," Serene replies.

"Oh, there's no need," a short and stout man replies this time. "We've done a preliminary survey, it doesn't seem all that dangerous.

Still, we would not like to risk civilians entering the dungeon attempting to take the treasure themselves."

"This looks like a dungeon to you?" Geniva says mockingly. "I bet I can go in and out of there alone."

"I would advise against it, young one," the man replies. "Perhaps leave the dirty work to us experienced Knights."

"What would you have us do then?" Ethelrid impatiently asks.

Seriously? Can't even enter a dungeon on our first day?

"You can help us wrangle the troublemaking locals from impeding our work. Yes, that'll do."

"I insist we go with you. Like Miss Urania said, there is strength in numbers," Ethelrid firmly states.

"Oh, dear," The woman steps into Ethelrid's personal space to look down on her with a wide, eery smile. "You would not last even a single minute down there."

"Now be a good girl and stay here," She goes to pat Ethelrid on the head. Ethelrid can only glare.

"Off we go, then," The man chimes in, "With any luck, this dungeon will be gone by tonight."

They enter the cave and disappear into the darkness, their third companion silently following behind them, but not without a long, cold look at the team through his scarred face.

Geniva goes to pat Ethelrid on the head, "Good girl." She says, exaggerating with a high-pitched voice.

Ethelrid slaps Geniva's hand away.

"Well this sucks," Amore moans. "I was really looking forward to dungeon crawling."

"I'm sorry to disappoint, kids. But we are obligated to protect the locals from entering the dungeon. Like I said, fighting is not all we do as Magic Knights."

She summons her compass again, and this time the needle turns incessantly, Serene closing her eyes until the needle stops and points southeast.

"This way," she leads the team through the wilderness.

"Excuse me, Miss Urania," Ethelrid starts.

"Yes, Ethelrid?"

"Captain Charlotte told us that we were supposed to investigate the dungeon. Even with the Purple Orcas around I believe we are still meant to join them in their survey."

Serene sighs. "I get it. You're antsy. You were anticipating to experience what going through a dungeon is like.

Don't get me wrong, I think you all are incredible fighters. But I believe a Magic Knight's first priority must always be the people. And that's what your first mission is going to be - protecting the people."

Geniva huffs, "Didn't think I would be a servant when I went to join the Magic Knights."

"Get used to it, Geniva," Serene says. "You'll be doing that a lot from now on."

Sounds of civilization reaches the team's ears, a vendor yelling out his produce here, groans of working animals there. But among the ruckus, a fight between two men just by the trees stand out to them.

"I don't give a damn! I'm going in, they have no right-"

"And you'll be fighting against all three of them!"

"I can take them."

"No, you absolutely cannot."

"Are you just going to let that slide? Let them take what they think is theirs?"

"We can ask help from other Magic Knights-"

"What makes you think the rest of them are any different?"

The older man then notices the forms of blue behind them, and their conversation dies down.

"Is there something wrong, gentleman?" Serene asks.

"Nothing that concerns you, miss," The old man replies.

"Any Magic Knights business is our business, sir."

The younger man spats, "How about minding your own damn bus-"

"Nothing that you should worry about, miss." Though his tone was not unkindly, his expression remains firm, suspicious even.

"If you're thinking of going in the dungeon, then I suggest you don't. It's dangerous, so leave it to us."

"Of course, miss."

"Let us know if you need anything else." Serene tries for a smile, but neither of them smile back.

She sighs and leads the team to the town square, market stalls lining the streets, a cacophony of bartering and music by the bards performing by the crown jewel of the square, an ornate fountain with three tiers of statues of maidens pouring glistening water on the basin.

Amore sees people taking a sip from the fountain itself and curious, goes to scoop up water with her hands bring it to her mouth to drink.

The sweetness hits and it startles her, and she laughs as she takes another scoop but a small hand smacks her hands away.

"Hey! Magic Knights not allowed!" A kid points an accusing finger.

"Why not?" Amore replies, indignant.

"You suck!" The kid sticks her tongue out and runs off.

Eyes begin to turn at the direction of the pops of blue, eyeing the team's robes and its insignia with suspicion and by some, even resentment.

"I don't think we're welcome here." Ethelrid states.

"You think?" Geniva throws a glare back at some of them.

"Hey." A young woman approaches them, apron dusted in flour and runny raw eggs.

"If you got any business here, I suggest you take it up with the mayor. Otherwise, leave."

"We're not here to cause trouble. We just wanted to protect you all from going into the dungeon," Serene tries for a calm aura, but this only infuriates the young woman.

"We have every damn right to go to what you call 'dungeon' because its ours!" She storms off without saying another word.

"Tch," The breeze picks up as Geniva reaches for her grimoire but Ethelrid grabs her arm and pushes her grimoire back to its holster.

Ethelrid pauses on that statement. Normally, locals would not lay claim to a dungeon, not that they do especially of one that supposedly just popped out of existence between yesterday and today.

She would go approach the young woman who stormed off, but the countless glares discourage her.

"Miss Urania," Ethelrid turns to her senior. "I think it's time we leave for the mayor's office."

"Agreed."

Off to the mayor's office they go, but Serene spots a head of blue hair out of the crowd, and goes to approach them.

"Lord Sion!" Serene calls out.

The man startles and genuine surprise was his expression especially when his eyes found their blue robes.

"O-oh! The Blue Rose! What a surprise!" He stutters.

"Surprised? You asked us to come here."

"Did I? Oh, my apologies, must've slipped my mind."

His eyes shift uneasily, seeming to gather his words before he says, "Well, off to your duties now! I have a business meeting to attend to!"

He briskly walks away.

The girls turn to their senior in their confusion and Serene looks back just as confused.

"Let's head to the mayor's office for now. He'll know what we have to do."

The mayor's office is not far from the town square and as they enter the cool breeze from outside still greets them through the large open windows of the office.

Sitting in the middle of the office is the mayor himself, Oscar Sinow, as written on the plaque by his desk.

He does not seem pleased to see them but he stands out of politeness to greet them.

"Welcome to Ampora village. We have not been graced by the presence of the Blue Rose Knights before."

"We hope you will find your first time with the Blue Rose helpful, sir." Serene tries for a smile.

"I doubt that." Suddenly the mood became tense.

"What is it this time, oh Magic Knights? A survey? A perimeter? More punishments for trespassing on our own grounds?"

"Pardon?"

"Oh, going for the innocent strategy this time, are you?"

"I'm sorry, sir," Nina interjects. "But we don't know what you're talking about."

Oscar pauses and seems to be studying each one of the team.

"You're all quite young. Still so idealistic.

Hmph. You truly don't know what's going on, do you?"

"No, we don't, sir," Ethelrid replies.

He sighs heavily, and motions them to sit on the seats by the table.

"For years, the outsiders, the Sion family, took control of this village along with many others.

With their monopoly on selling goods with prices so low other merchants can't possibly keep up, they are forced to sell what little land and property they have left to the family themselves.

And the family turns those properties into mansions and most importantly - trading routes.

But of course, it wasn't enough for them, to the point that they began to covet our cultural heritage - a shrine dedicated to the first spring of this land. The spring that blessed us with clean, sweet water.

With only the treasure in our shrine in mind, they desecrate our sacred halls as if it's a simple market.

We could never sell those treasures even if we were starving, and here comes the Sion family taking them all as they please."

Nina's face was contorted in disgust and no small amount of rage. Ethelrid goes to place a hand on her shoulder.

"We of course protested against the Sion family, until they started hiring those purple bedecked excuses of a Magic Knight.

They hinder us from entering in our own shrine, saying its under the Magic Knights jurisdiction along with the artifact in it, and I said, 'Sir! There is no artifact, we all know too well, because it is our shrine! You have no jurisdiction here!'

And yet they still won't let us in. They even had the nerve to say they will be forced to use violence if we persist.

Persisted we did. And met with violence we were.

Even our strongest magic users were no match to the Magic Knights. So here we are, twiddling our thumbs helplessly as the fate of our own shrine is in the hands of outsiders."

Ethelrid suddenly stands up, recalling what the man said before they disappeared into the cave.

With any luck, this dungeon will be gone by tonight.

"We need to go before they destroy the shrine," Ethelrid urges.

-end of pt. 2-

pt. 1 / pt. 3

Geniva wraps her arms around her, feigning her discomfort for feeling chilly in the cool evening.

"To each other, we were nothing but opponents, and failing to defeat the other would mean severe punishment.

In a particular match, I noticed bruises on your body that I knew wasn't from me. I'm sure you've noticed the same thing from my own."

Geniva unintentionally searched through Ethelrid's bare arms for discoloration and, embarrassed, brought her gaze back to the courtyard.

Ethelrid knew that look from before.

"You defeated me then. Our parents must have left to have dry conversation over wine as I lay on the bare dirt.

Then I felt a soothing aura all over my body, and I looked up to see you summoning a comforting breeze that took away the pain, with tears in your eyes."

"What's your point?" Geniva snapped.

Ethelrid pauses.

"First of all… I'm sorry. For hurting you."

Silence.

"What? You expect me to say the same? I don't intend to."

"You don't have to apologize. We didn't ask to fight each other."

"Now you're just making excuses for yourself."

Ethelrid breathes heavily, fighting to calm down.

Geniva snickers. "Looks like you're about ready to destroy another building."

"Stop it. I'm trying to have a conversation with you."

"And I'm not listening."

"Geniva."

"What are you gonna do huh? Fight me?"

A darkness threatens to envelop Ethelrid's form, but she fights to control it. Barely. A black tendril around Ethelrid's arm remain.

"Here you are, apologizing and then you're just about ready to fight me again. Hmph."

"I'm not. I've… I've changed. And so can you."

"What makes you think I can change, huh?"

"I think that little girl crying over my beaten body wants to."

Geniva huffed, "My mother wasn't exactly pleased with that when she found out, if you must know."

"But we're not so helpless now like we were then, aren't we? We can make our own choices now, fuck our parents."

"Speak for yourself. Your father left with some other woman, but mine's still around."

"That time we fought the giant plant, with your scatter arrows? I know you've gotten stronger than before."

"What are you suggesting, that I beat up my mother? That's usually what peasants are for."

"You don't mean that."

"Maybe I do, Rosenbluth," Geniva fixes a stern stare at Ethelrid, "Maybe I'm just a sick, twisted bastard for life."

"We're like 15. We have so much time to change for the better." Ethelrid pauses.

"And you can start right now, with us."

Geniva looks back at the courtyard littered with the squad insignia along with the bushes of blue roses, the fountain flowing freely and reflecting the moonlight.

"You've been hanging out with monks or something?"

"Between surviving in the wild and training for the exam, I had an ample amount of time to just… contemplate."

"Maybe you should contemplate some more."

Ethelrid says nothing, but she maintains eye contact on Geniva's own grey eyes. Geniva shifts.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Geniva finally asks.

"Because you understand. All those "training" have led me to that night I fought my father and destroyed our mansion. And you with Dia-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence! I dare you!" The wind picks up and from the chilly night, it threatens to be freezing. Ethelrid throws her hands up in an attempt to calm Geniva down.

But it was late in the night and exhaustion triumphs as the gusts of wind die down.

"I'm sorry," Ethelrid speaks slowly. "It was not my place to say that." Geniva still breathes heavily.

"I just… I want you to know that we could be something more than soldiers."

Ethelrid leaves Geniva to contemplate, retiring to the infirmary.

"You spent a suspiciously long amount of time 'talking' to her," Nina says as Ethelrid closes the door behind her.

"Stop it. Amore is already rubbing off on you."

"Well… Yeah, I did tell her to say that," Amore admits with a chuckle.

Ethelrid can't help the small smile that creeps up on her face. She plops back on her bed, but does not intend to sleep still. It feels like all they've been doing was sleeping and on the day they became Magic Knights.

Ethelrid can only imagine the missions the other members are getting into.

"I can see that you're restless," Nina comments.

"Am I that obvious?" Ethelrid replies.

"This little bundle beside me is also brimming with energy this late at night."

"Ah, after the nurse told us that we can head out of the infirmary tomorrow I couldn't keep still since!" Amore basically hops on the bed on her knees.

Ethelrid briefly smiles, but anxiety starts creeping in, her expression falling.

"Is something wrong?" Nina says.

Ethelrid pauses for second.

"It surprises me still that I opened up to you all about my past. I never thought I'd trust that easily."

"Like Amore said," Nina replies. "We have no one else to talk to about this."

"Don't worry! Your secret is safe with us!" Amore adds.

"It's not exactly a secret. I just… I'm afraid I'll fail you like I have failed others before."

"You're eager to change. And at our age, we're still learning," Nina replies.

The same words Ethelrid told Geniva. The anxiety leaves just as clarity came.

"You're right… I have so much time to make up for my mistakes," Ethelrid turns to the other two.

"And for you both to find a meaningful purpose here in being Magic Knights," Ethelrid ends with a smile.

Nina and Amore smiles back.

"Damn," Amore pipes up. "Hearing you both talk makes me feel like I'm not with people my age."

"Some kids just grow up too soon." Nina says.

"I wish I grew up sooner and maybe I would have been taken seriously!"

"Oh, no. Amore, dear, you wouldn't want that."

"Who else would annoy us to death with their chatter and bubbly personality?" Ethelrid teases.

"You're right! I take my job very seriously," Amore huffs.

The door slams open and close as Geniva walks in. Her eyes fall on the three but quickly looks away, briskly walking towards her bed and if anyone can lay down aggressively, it'd be Geniva.

"I think it's time we rest for tomorrow when we truly be Magic Knights," Nina suggests.

"Sounds good to me."

"Way ahead of you!"

Ethelrid rests her head by the windowsill, looking up at the crescent moon and clutching her pendant of ice, thanking whichever god is listening and has just blessed her with friends this quickly.

She looks at the pendant into her reflection, her green eyes staring back at her and thinks to the loved one that shares her shade of green eyes and hope that she's proud of her daughter.

Lastly, Ethelrid's eyes land on Geniva who has wrapped her arms around herself and conflicting feelings bubble up in Ethelrid. But she thinks to another loved one, out there helping his community.

Lyre has not given up on me. I won't give up on you just yet.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

A strong gust of wind pushes Ethelrid back and her body hits the hard soil.

She hears, "Ugh, how disappointing. Your young one has bested mine yet again."

Tears fall freely and exhaustion consumers her as the world slowly turns to black….

Until a cool breeze surrounds her beat up form and she looks up at her opponent, grey eyes brimming with tears, bruised hands over Ethelrid's body as she summons what little wind magic she has left.

"I'm so sorry… Diana…"

The maid?

"Please don't leave me…"

And Ethelrid thinks to herself, "why would anyone leave you?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethelrid nearly hugs her entire small frame as sobs wrack her body.

"Over a scratch? You're such a crybaby," Geniva sighs. "Alright, let me see."

Geniva pulls Ethelrid's arms away from her face to expose the purple bruise on her cheek and Geniva pauses.

She reaches out and presses a cool hand on Ethelrid's face.

"There. All better."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethelrid fights to keep her tears from falling as she summons black tendrils and looks back at her father with his bruised knuckles. It's not herself she fears would be the victim of those violent hands.

She then moves her eyes to her fri- opponent, whose grey eyes are wide with fear and betrayal.

"I'm sorry…" she whispers as her tendril whips toward her enemy.

-end of pt. 1-

pt. 2

Who are they to share their deepest, darkest secrets? They've only just met yesterday.

It is then that Ethelrid speaks up.

"I'm not going to hide this from you all… There's no doubt you've heard the rumors about me."

Nina and Amore know too well of the barely silent whispers around the food court yesterday.

What's she doing back here?

What was Captain Charlotte thinking?

Let's hope she doesn't destroy the headquarters.

I wish she didn't come back from those 6 months of "training."

"I would say what I did was because I was too young to know any better... but the people I've hurt... That's no excuse."

Ethelrid pauses. She's not sure how much she wants to reveal, but she desperately wants to get this weight off her chest.

"My best friend's village was impoverished due to my father's exploitation, so I confronted him. Our argument ended with his knife on my mother's neck.

I had no choice but to do my father's bidding to save my mother, but I ended up betraying my best friend and his village, who treated me with nothing but kindness.

I took their prized possessions, their instruments, including their ceremonial bells. And it was all for naught when I accidentally threw them down a cliff."

Ethelrid pauses to wipe the tears that were threatening to pour down.

"In their rage, the village banished me, and rightfully so. But I had nothing to trade with my father for my mother's life.

So we fought, and I nearly destroyed our whole house. When the Knights came to investigate, all they saw was a crazed child capable only of destruction.

What hurt the most was the fear in my mother's eyes. So I ran away, having failed several people that day."

Ethelrid deeply breathes in and breathes out. She does not bother to wipe the tears off her face, her body wracked with silent sobs.

Nina comes to sit by Ethelrid's bed and places a hand on Ethelrid's shoulder. Amore comes running to hug Ethelrid tightly. Ethelrid soaks up the comfort like a sponge and has gained the courage to say more.

"I would have stayed away. Were it not for my mom, I wouldn't have come back. Hell, I wouldn't have even attempted to become a Magic Knight.

But... I want to make up for my past sins. I want to be better. So... here I am."

Nina has followed suit and gave Ethelrid a hug as well, stroking her back. Geniva looks on coldly, but her heart has annoyingly been tugging at its strings.

"I got rejected from becoming an archaeologist," Nina starts. "I was always told I was smart enough to attend the best schools, and my whole village was relying on me to preserve our ancient ruins, our heritage, from thieves.

So off to school I went, having passed the exam, and the rest of the students there gave me hell. To the point that I was doubting if I was even smart in the first place.

The teachers weren't much help either. Not a single day goes by without them saying I should go back to the boonies, where I belong.

Looking back at it now, I was actually a good student, with good grades and perfect behavior. And yet, when I saw the 'REJECTED' on my application letter for a university, disappointment alone can't even describe what I felt then.

I couldn't look at any of the villagers in the eyes, not even my parents.

So I had one more chance to redeem myself, and it was joining the Magic Knights."

Nina closes her eyes as she lays her head on Ethelrid's shoulder. Ethelrid wraps an arm around Nina.

"I was always overshadowed by my older siblings," Amore says. "They were off going to the top universities, becoming Magic Knights, becoming successful merchants, and there I was, a complete failure in the shadow of my great siblings.

I was always ignored. No one bothers to send for me when dinner's ready. No one bothers to give me gifts from their travels. It'd be a miracle if even my parents would remember my birthday.

So I did what any kid would do—cause havoc to get attention.

But it wasn't enough. I've become more of a failure in my parents' eyes. I couldn't bear being unwanted, even in my own home.

So I went to the capital hoping I would be more appreciated here," Amore sniffles, burying her face in Ethelrid's neck.

"And you are appreciated here, Amore," Nina says. Amore looks up at her and, even with her teary eyes, smiles back at Nina.

"Ugh," Geniva rolls her eyes. Ethelrid knows it's all a facade. She can see Geniva's lips trembling slightly, her eyes glossy, and breathing heavily.

Ethelrid leaves her bed and walks up to Geniva.

"Ew, get away from me! I don't need you sobs to slobber your snot all over me!"

Ethelrid reaches for Geniva's hands, but Geniva snatches them away.

"Get away!" Geniva's facade was breaking, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Ethelrid raises her arms as if to hug but waits for Geniva to consent. Geniva fights to hold in her sobs, wracking her body, but she couldn't hold it any longer as she lets out a sob, involuntarily reaching for Ethelrid, and Ethelrid wraps Geniva in her arms as she cries loudly.

Geniva's cries reverberate across the infirmary, with all of her teammates enveloping her in a warm hug.

-end of chapter 2-

ch. 1 / part 1 / part 2 / part 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We're lost," Ethelrid admits.

"Ugh, who let you lead?" Geniva whines.

"If I remember correctly, you did."

Geniva groans.

"Thank you for being honest, Ethelrid," Nina chimes in. "I had an inkling we were losing our sense of direction."

"For how long?" Ethelrid exclaims, "and why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh… um…"

"She just doesn't want to hurt your feelings, Ethy," Amore pats the embarrassed Nina, who is hiding her face with her hands.

"I don't care about my feelings! I want to be out of this hellhole!" In record timing, Ethelrid's stomach grumbles loudly.

"Ooooh, someone's hangry!" Amore teases.

"There's always grass."

Ethelrid slaps Geniva with a dark tendril. Geniva slaps back with a whip of wind. Nina tugs at their ears like naughty children.

Ethelrid sighs, "Let's retrace our steps."

And so they did, turning back to the path they came before, which did not exist anymore.

"What?" Ethelrid swore there was just a path that they came in before, but now a towering hedge faces the group.

"We must be more lost than I thought," Amore pipes up.

"No, there was definitely a path through there."

"Woah, Nina, did you have 4 heads before?"

"What?"

"Oh wait, no, there's 6." Amore slurs.

"What are you on about?" Geniva coughs. "Ugh, what is that?"

The others join her in her coughing; fumes spread and surround the maze; newly sprouted fungi are now suddenly everywhere.

Amore looks up at her team through the fumes and smoke, but her team wasn't there. Instead, cloaked figures in Magic Knight regalia stand before her.

"Oh, little sister. Don't even try taking the exam. You'll just get disappointed."

"No reason to push yourself hard now; that won't be enough to pass the exam."

"Dear, I know tomorrow is your birthday, but your brother just passed the exam! We're all proud of him! Don't be selfish and come help me with the food."

Their shadows grow longer as the figures tower over her, leaving her in the shade of their greatness.

"Oh, would you look at your sister, Amore. Being the pride of the family, taking on the family business!"

Cloaked as they are, it seems as though they're not even looking in her direction.

Look at me!

They do not respond.

LOOK AT ME!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nina coughs. "We need to get out of here!"

But no one answers.

Instead, she hears whispers.

"What's this kid from the boonies doing here?"

"They're really letting anyone enroll here, aren't they?"

"Haha, she looks too stupid to be here!"

Nina sits in a classroom, surrounded by shadows, who keep whispering and whispering and whispering…

"Can't even afford a proper notebook."

"She mute or something? She really doesn't know anything, does she?"

A shadow slams a paper on her desk; huge letters spell "REJECTED" on top of the sheet.

"You're not qualified to continue your studies here. Don't bother trying to be an archaeologist considering your performance." The shadow is lined with pockets full of coins. Nina looks into her pockets, finding that she has none.

She then finds herself standing between two shadows; though shadows they remain, Nina knows exactly who those two people are. In the darkness, Nina only sees the look of disappointment on their blank faces.

Don't look at me…

They look on.

Please, don't look at me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Geniva coughs and coughs. As she tries to breathe in, she coughs up back out the same overwhelming fumes. She reaches for her grimoire, intending to blow away the toxic fumes, but she is hit with a gust of wind way stronger than hers, sending her flying a few paces away.

"Weak. Again!"

A shadow comes up and swallows her, making her feel weaker and younger than she is now.

"Stand up!"

Geniva does, with difficulty, still suffering from the blow. The shadow casts a strong current of air, and Geniva barely summons a defense.

"Weak. Again!"

Geniva stands and is hit by another blow.

"Again!"

"Again!"

"Again!"

Anger wells up inside Geniva and mustering as much mana as she could; she roars as she casts a fury of slashing wind, and the shadow crumples to the floor. To her horror, the shadow shifts from threatening to a beloved. Geniva gasps.

"Diana!"

She rushes to the shadow's side as she frantically casts healing magic.

"I'm so sorry!"

Suddenly, the shadow stands up and turns its back to Geniva without a single glance.

"Diana!"

The shadow keeps on walking.

"Please, don't leave me!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What have you done?"

Two voices meld into one. The barely visible faces of the shadow are melded into one, but she knows who each of these faces belongs to.

A dark eruption, a dingy mansion caving in.

A dozen bells clanging as they fall down a cliff.

"What have you done?"

Her father lay on the ground, wounded and struggling to breathe, fear in his eyes. Pride and triumph surface on her face, until she sets her eyes on her mother, fear and sorrow melded into one in those green eyes.

"What have you done?"

She climbs with difficulty off the edge as the priceless bells and instruments clang against the walls of the canyon, falling to unfathomable depths. She looks up at the dozens of faces of shadows, all twisted in anger, and out of all them, the anger and disappointment in that one pair of brown eyes cut the deepest.

Ethelrid struggles to breathe; the unbearable weight in her heart struggles against her chest.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"What have you done?"

Breathe in. Brea-

"What have you done?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's taking so long? Stop this, now!"

"I'm trying my best, captain!"

"Whose idea was this anyway? Ugh, we'll look into that later. Get them out of there!"

Ethelrid wakes up in a trance, half of her face planted on the ground, as with the rest of her body. She looks up at spots of the blue rushing this way and that, and a particular blue blob approaches her.

"Ethelrid. Can you hear me? Here, let's get you up."

Captain Charlotte pulls Ethelrid to her feet and looks around to find the other recruits being held up by other members of the squad as well.

The recruits are looking worse for wear, and Ethelrid imagines she is too.

"I don't know what they're thinking. As women, I thought these initiations were beyond us."

She looks to the rest of the members and says, "Gather the squad! I want to get to the bottom of this."

Now to Ethelrid, "Come on, that's right, left foot, right foot."

-end of part 3-

part 1 / part 2 / part 4