Seeing how the… battle was going, Cleo started getting concerned. This demon must have taken a lot of time to perfect if it was able to be this much of a threat to even a relatively new MG. Although, the Semiseelie certainly thought that Silvia could be a bit more aggressive with the use of her magic instead of just stalling and running. It had the potential to do so much more, but a combination of inexperience and imagined limits was holding her back.

Cleo hoped that would change with time- and this fight would probably be a great catalyst for that. They did think it would have been preferable if Silvia didn’t have to fight a purpose-built MG killer for that to happen, but you work with what you’re given. In fact, out of all the various attempted counters to MGs that the Breaches had spit out over the years, this one was fairly overcomable.

The demon looked better suited for a more mundane-weapon reliant MG. Taking an immeasurably short amount of time to simulate different battles, Cleo decided that had Kay, Carlos, or Chris come across it, even with their vastly more numerous amount of perks, they had a higher chance of dying due to lower utilization of magic in directly inflicting damage. Not that Silvia hadn’t been a hair’s breadth away from death near constantly, but once she got to their level of experience, this version of an MG hunter shouldn't be that much of a bother for her. For now, the various implantations of automatic reactions and thought processes were doing their job of keeping her alive.

That too was an unfortunate but necessary consequence of circumstance. Eventually, Silvia would get to know of their existence and be repaid according to the screaming from the nature of Cleo’s existence- but for now, Cleo’s abilities beyond what would be normal for one of their kind allowed them to ignore it.

Self analysis indicating they were still fit to act, Cleo let time resume and skimmed their contracted MGs thoughts to see if intervention would be necessary.

Everything appeared to be in order. Panic, awareness, acceptance, and determination were present but not hopelessness. As expected Silvia would likely be fine, although that depended on what she decided to do as her decisive strike. The Semiseelie hoped she would choose a good option.

The explosion showcased how well the MG had taken to her magic with a little help- it was no easy task to coordinate that many objects even when they were all so small and all essentially required uniform treatment. Predictably, the demon wasn’t particularly fazed by followup attack- disappointingly the similar to actions proven ineffective- so it was likely that Cleo would need to step in again to prevent the loss of a necessary asset and possibly friend.

Before it was deemed absolutely necessary to intervene, said asset proved why they were being so heavily invested in by pushing their magic to the illogical extreme. Out of thousands of predicted futures, only two had been calculated to have this happen completely unprompted: one ended with every protein making up the demon being forcefully denatured and the other that was currently occurring meant that Cleo had to consult with the rest of the Semiseelie.

With a sign deemed to be the human reaction to these circumstances, Cleo reached out to the computers for help in doing time dilation, preferring to use their focus on opening a portal to the demiplane the conference was being hosted on. The trivial task over, they stepped into a mockup of a human courtroom and onto a podium set up for the defendant.

Like with all decisions made by a Semiseelie collective, all arguments and even the final decision were known to all participants- but going through the motions was deemed important for cultural understanding. Another Semiseelie taking the form of some kind of rodent appeared on the prosecution's podium while the final speaking participant- a much more practical amorphous blob- appeared as the judge.

As soon as they apperated, the blob broadcasted, “we are gathered here under the request of local-name ‘Cleo.’ Would you please explain the reason why?”

Trying to add some emotional inflection to their voice, Cleo explained, “my contractor is attempting to utilize their magic in a way that has been restricted for their species.”

Doing their job perpetuating the sham, the blob followed up, “please clarify which practice you are referring to.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“The creation or manipulation of existing matter with the goal of creating antimatter. In this case a relatively small amount of antihydrogen.”

Conveying a turn despite its form, the blob asked the rodent, “why is the creation of antimatter among the uses of magic restricted for humans?”

In a voice much too deep for the form it occupied, the ‘prosecution’ Semiseelie explained, “while they have access to fission and crude forms of fusion for both energy and weaponry, it was decided that allowing knowledge and ability to create antimatter represented to much of a risk of pushing humans to auto-elimination. Such an act would leave no resistance in the utilization of ‘ULE’ in this universe and force us to retreat from it. While there are uncountably infinite universes, this is one of a few countably infinite that allow resistance due to said species.”

Turning back to face Cleo, the blob motioned for their response.

“While antimatter is banned as of now, with the proper restrictions in place, models predict it is possible to prevent the spread of knowledge or ability beyond my contractor. Simply allowing the magic in this case, then removing any understanding would be sufficient and minimize reality warping.”

Taking their turn in the ‘debate,’ the rodent asked, “would the remnant recollection of the event not be enough to reconstruct the magic used and thus require another censoring?”

“My contractor is currently suffering from multiple injuries likely to cause- directly or indirectly- loss of memory, confusion, or false-recollection. Additionally, the effects of using restricted magic would only make these worse. Finally, yet another censoring or manipulation would not meaningfully contribute to destabilization before it could be resolved.”

“Accounting for possible future actions based on past precedent, would your instance require more resources than allocated in a statistically significant number of futures directly due to the flawed bargain this censorship necessitates?”

“Yes. Almost all possible futures would require that if this is allowed. The small remainder are cases where my contractor dies early and I am no longer needed.”

Mock exclamations of shock and disgust came from the audience Semiseelie at this known revelation. The judge tapped their gavel to quiet everyone. “Knowing this, why would you call this meeting? Have you gained an understanding of greed or selfishness?”

Emulating amusement and pride, Cleo said, “not yet, although I appreciate the sentiment. Under the special parameters of my existence, I am afforded unlimited authority over the system should it be necessary to my directive. As such- while I acknowledge the sentiment of the assembly- the temporary capability to create antimatter and all subsequent consequences will be allowed.”

More attempts at various forms of surprise or anger came from the other Semiseelie. To perpetuate the act that this wasn’t the known outcome, the rodent asked, “what directive is so necessary as to give you that much power?”

“In the event that a universe is attacked through the use of a variant which goes uncontested, I am called upon to use whatever means necessary to resolve the issue. Due to the nature of the uncontested variant in this case, it was difficult to find a human that could be guided to deal with the threat without also causing the extinction of their species or worsening the issue. As such, my particular contractor is currently irreplaceable.

“Similarly, as I am contracted to them, this instance of me is irreplaceable and shall be allowed all resources necessary, so long as doing so doesn’t result in a lesser chance to maintain control of this universe.”

It was ultimately pointless to explain this, but the chance for one of the collective to come to understand a local concept made doing so invaluable. In fact, should one do so, they might be able to take a role similar to Cleo and lighten the burden on them and their contractor. It was a blind hope- incidentally one of the local concepts Cleo did have an understanding of- but every chance to inch a Semiseelie closer to being an independent entity was one well worth it.

With the performance over, the world faded back to the diorama-like moment within the shop Silvia had chosen to stand and fight in. Like many times before, Cleo created a nonconsensual layer to their contract and let their contractor’s mind open to the deepest level of their chosen magic for a brief instant.

It lasted just long enough to allow the creation of 598,802,395,210,000 atoms of antihydrogen. That one billionth of a gram being just enough to instantly kill both the demon and Silvia from acute radiation poisoning- although the latter had sections of their costume designed to absorb as much of this as possible and likely not die.

Although, they might not feel like that was the case.