A Magical Anomaly
Chapter 14
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Choice Made:
Afternoon:
[x] Snoop around the house a little, no ones home, so maybe you can dig up some information
[x]Looking for something specific (Information about your past, any accidents ? How you obtained your scars ?)
Night:
[x] Chat with someone else (Can be multiple people)
[x] Alice (Getting to know her again, to reassure her about your health)
[x] Satsuki (Getting to know her)
[x] Your little sister (Getting to know her)
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NOTE: 3 Days until the next Breach
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You hum internally as you consider your options.
Its a little daunting having time to yourself after the last few days… especially now that you don't have to fight anything to survive and can just… exist.
Its… weird… just being yourself.
Mainly because you don't know what past/future you did when they had free time.
You get the feeling that you didn't really sit around or laze much.
You wonder why… just laying on the couch with the warm sun streaming through the window is such a nice feeling…
You idly glance at yourself… your pale skin is definitely still pale even with the sun warming you… and your scar still sends a heavy feeling on FEAR through you that leaves you gasping.
Its… not as bad as before… nothing like trying to open your mouth and speak in any way.
The mere thought of doing that makes your vision blur as hysterical laughter echoes in your ears.
A force of will shoves that to the side. And you take a deep breathe.
You need to figure out who you are…
No.
Who you were.
You are Filia.
But who were you before… or you are in the future that passed?
God time stuff is confusing.
You slip off the couch, a little sad that the warm spot of sunlight you were sitting in isn't on you anymore.
You suppose you could just laze for a little longer…
You shake the thought away.
Lunch being in the fridge is a short distraction that you indulge in. Some pastry stuff that Mum made.
God, it's better than pancakes… maybe… it's at least amazingly made.
Its only a twenty or so minute distraction though.
So you begin to snoop around the house on your search for answers.
Considering you're in the kitchen, you start by looking through the drawers. Mostly full of kitchen supplies or tools.
There's a lower one with a section of keys and stuff.
Two stacks of business cards meet your eye, and you pick them up.
The pictures are easy enough to recognise. One of your mothers, and the other your father.
Mums apparently called Tauriel… which sounds a little weird compared to your name as Filia and your sisters of Lilla…
Maybe naming children is something your family line struggles with?
Dads called Jullian it seems. A more normal name.
Both of them work at the same company called ArcLight. The card calling it a company that bridges technology and magic in some way.
You make a note to do some research on that at some point. Probably good to know what your parents do.
Well, the cards list that mum works as a developer of Protective Systems, whatever that means.
Dads the Head Designer for Military Application.
If you had to guess… mum works on armor while dad works on weapons?
You put the cards back where you saw them as you consider the thought, nodding at it as you search the rest of the drawers for anything about you.
There's… surprisingly little.
You find what looks like a… photo of you from a few years back…
The date suggests it was ten or so huh.
You're smiling brightly in that. Standing on a stage with an award of some kind.
You note that your neck is exposed in the picture… and you're wearing a top that exposes both sleeves.
So your scar thing happened at most ten years ago.
That helps narrow it down you suppose…
More searching of the kitchen doesn't reveal anything of use… though there is a drawer with some weird runes carved into the inside of it. They glow a faint blue light as the runes pulse every few seconds.
Elly snaps into view when you go to the touch them. Appearing between you and them.
'Please don't tinker with one of the ward anchors. They're rather delicate.'
You pull your hand away… and then wonder why its engraved into a drawer of all things… they aren't that sturdy.
Elly shrugs and then settles on your shoulder as you continue your search.
The main hall towards the door is lined with frames, and you look at each of them as you pass.
An even split between Lilla and you, and you think they're organized based on year…
You look oldest in the ones near the kitchen, and youngest near the ones by the door.
A brief look at them shows that you started covering your arms and neck two years ago.
So this is definitely a recent occurrence.
The change is… rather dramatic…
In one picture, you're smiling brightly, mouth open in a wide look of joy.
And in the next, you're still smiling… but it's far more reserved.
Your eyes scan across the picture with you first covered up. A class photo of sorts, with everyone sitting on raised benches and a background… a surprisingly real looking one.
Its as though the entire class is sitting on a hill, with trees behind them as they all smile and on a sunny day.
Holographic maybe… huh.
Your eyes scan the picture before it. Looking for anything that's too different.
You don't really notic-
You see a pair of green orbs.
Bright, so bright.
Far too close.
Something sharp slices across your arm as something wet licks across your thr-
Your breathing hard when you come to.
In your room, back against the back of your bed as far as you can be from your door.
You rock a few times, heat blooming from where your core should be before PAIN ripples across your entire body.
It starts at your chest, then moves down in a ripple like the worst cramp you've ever suffered.
Your whine mentally as it picks up and then leaves.
Elly snaps into view. Eyes narrowed before she clicks her tongue.
Something shifts… a feeling like a heavy blanket settles over your body as you feel as though something has vanished.
It makes you feel… empty?
A pit of something that should be there, now visible.
Elly shakes her head, muttering to herself before settling on your shoulder and giving it a pat.
'On one hand, I should probably applaud your instinctual ability to slow time when you feel threatened… on the other, I should have predicted that this would happen and locked your cores earlier…'
She sighs as she looks at you. Eyes unblinking in a strange, but not creepy way.
Unsettling maybe?
She shakes her hand before you can ask what she means and she flutters over to your desk, the one with your computer on it before sitting on the edge.
'Something on that picture made you feel as though you were under extreme threat. That in turn caused you to call upon your core and force it to slow time for a moment… similar to how your time stop worked, but far, far less intense. The pain is simply backlash from your core not being fully… hmm… I suppose humans would call it destressed? Its like a muscle, it grows as you use it, but push it too hard and it will damage it for quite a long time.'
You nod at her… idly wondering if theres a way to censor whatever set you off.
A glance at Elly has her roll her eyes, and snap her fingers.
'I can't say that pushing problems for later is a particularly healthy method of coping… but I do suppose it is one way to do so.'
She vanishes at that. And you take a breath to help slow your rapidly beating heart.
Maybe… that's enough delving into the past for now…
Though, you're at your computer…
You make a mental list as you start up your computer, tapping your own name into the holographic keyboard that flairs to life.
You know that looking at your scar sets you off, as does that green eyes thing. Trying to touch your neck is another cause. And you know that trying to speak or make a sound causes you to feel fear.
It's in different amounts of course… you think the eyes and trying to speak had the biggest effect.
Your neck was next, and your scar after that… trying to make sound is lesser then both, but probably still good to avoid.
With that done, you look at the computer.
Your name… doesn't have too many results.
There's some that mention prizes you've won, huh, a few in debating and such. Interesting.
It's not really that useful, but it was worth a try you suppose.
Considering you're at your computer already, you type ArcLight into the search bar and glance through the company website.
Apparently, they work to combine magic and technology to enhance people's lives.
And they have their hands in most of the pies… or however that saying goes.
Military and construction seems to be their main focuses. Though they do dabble in plenty of other fields.
Interesting that your parents both work for the military sections you suppose.
You could probably search more stuff…
But nothing really comes to mind…
Well, some stuff does, a quick search of Satsuki's family tells you that she's the daughter of the town's Overseer.
Basically the town mayor or similar.
She's top of her class in a few fields according to the awards and such that are published publicly. You imagine she's more than just that with how she's heiress to the Overseer position.
Which makes you question just how bad your luck had to be to get involved with a kidnapping involving her on the exact day it happened, and in the exact place… and at the exact time…
Is this what Elly meant by Fate and games?
God… You kind of hope that Satsuki's an ally in this… please don't let her become a Magical girl…
You blink a bit… and then facepalm.
Damn you've jinxed it now haven't you.
With a mental sigh you flop back in your chair, and contemplate how you'll deal with this if she becomes a Magical Girl…
Meh, you've got enough to worry about dealing with your Nullness, trauma and Fate being annoying. Someone else can deal with her if she's a Magical.
Please let her be a normal rich girl…
You decide to let those thoughts drift away.
Returning to the couch to laze away for now.
You could be more productive.
But the warm spot on the couch is too comfortable to ignore.
Even Villains need their rest.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
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Your rest is interrupted when a key clicks into the door.
You awaken without a yawn, rising up from your… rather lengthy nap if the time is right.
Huh… you've been asleep for a while…
Your vision is a little blearly as you peek over the couch. Dads massive figure takes up the hallway as he trudges in.
What might have been a suit now hung over his shoulder.
Or at least the blazer is, the shirts untucked and the top two or so buttons are undone.
He blinks a few times when he sees you, then gives you a wink as he drops his keys into a drawer by the kitchen.
"Hey Kiddo, had fun today?"
You make a so-so gesture with your hand, your other one reaching for a pen and the pad as you idly wonder why you don't use your phone to communicate…
Maybe it feels less personal?
You shrug mentally at that, giving mum a wave as she and Lilla walk in.
Lilla rushes towards you, hugging you when she sees you before looking you up and down.
Then she steps back without a word, you're a little confused at the gesture but shrug either way.
A quick Hi is shared between the two of you, one verbal and one paper. And then she vanishes into her room.
You could do the same… but you decide to be social today.
So you help your parents with dinner as they chat about work.
Partway through, Lilla pops back up, helping carry a set of dishes to the table as dinner is quickly sorted out.
Dad starts telling a story about something that happened at work while mum interjects occasionally. A deadpan response to dads thrilling tale of overblown designing and people wanting to pack too much into their weapons.
He complains a lot about how some people want guns in their swords despite knowing that it'll weaken their durability.
A lot.
Dinner is an enjoyable affair overall. Dad and Lilla provide the entertainment with their stories, mum interjects occasionally to explain or comment, and you enjoy the lively atmosphere well past dinner actually finishing.
You add this to the list of things you fight to protect.
Eventually dinner finishes, and you tap Lilla on the shoulder as she heads off towards her room.
A quick scrawling on your pad and she rolls her eyes before smiling at you, the two of you sitting in her room a moment later.
Its… far more colourful then yours.
Where yours is mostly monochrome and dark wood, hers has flashes of colour from a variety of sources.
A shelf is recessed into a wall, figures of anime characters stacked along its multiple layers with a large computer near them.
You think there are multiple monitors from the multiple bars on the table.
Her bed has a rainbow cover over it, a mat of similar colour on the floor.
There's also a large bean bag in one corner, stylized like a fat cat of sorts.
She sprawls out on that while you sit on her computer chair. An extremely comfortable one that feels just right on you…
Why did past/future you sit on a hard looking throne when they could have sat on this?
"So, what's up?"
You shrug towards her question, writing about how you wanted to see how she was doing.
She gives you a confused look for a moment, then shrugs in return.
"Nothing's really changed, you know?, still doing the same stuff at school. Friends are the same, I mean… I suppose Alex got himself a girlfriend, and Sarah's off dating another girl after the last one broke up with her… but nothing's really happened to me. It's been pretty quiet actually."
You remember her bringing up working on a game of sorts, so you bring that up.
Her eyes sparkle a little more… the blue almost glowing as she smiles.
"Ah right! Yeah, yeah, its going great! Finally got the parry system working, or at least the blocking stuff. I still need to get the animations done for the hit reactions and stuff, not to mention I need to get Hyper Pink's beam attack working… uh… shit, I need a name for that. Any ideas?"
She stands up to move to her computer as she talks, and you slide backwards with her computer chair.
The mental Weeeee as the chair rolls backwards goes unheard.
She shows you her progress with sheer excitement radiating off of her.
You don't really understand most of her rambling about programming and such.
But the Magical Girl parts you definitely do.
Main character's a Pink.
One with the usual backstory of no parents.
Though…
Its a shooter…
But it's a dating sim at the same time?
That… that kind of confuses you…
You decide to just roll with it as she shows more and more of it off, eventually getting to the attack that she needs help naming.
The character shouts something, Lilla hasn't figured out what, two large stars rotate around her wand before she pulls her hands up. Pink, black, blue and white energy gathering around her before she thrusts both hands forward.
A beam larger then her bursts forwards with a shockwave as it obliterates whatever's in front of her for a few seconds.
Oddly… the name Quintett Feuer comes to mind..
You don't even know what it means.
But it seems oddly fitting.
You write down how you think it's spelt. Passing the paper to her as she does a search on it and hums.
"You know… this might be good. Hmm, I wonder if I should-"
She devolves into mutters as she focus back on the program.
You get the feeling she's getting into a zone of sorts, so you give her a hug and walk back to your room.
With your door closed, you shoot off a text to both Alice and Satsuki.
Its worded a bit differently for each, a bit friendlier for Alice, a bit more formal for Satsuki, but both asking what they're up to.
You also make sure to reassure Alice that you're fine and thank her for coming to check up on you while you were hospitalized.
Alice's response is almost instant. A rapid fire string of short messages that come so fast you wonder how she's even typing them that fast.
Mostly they're various exclamations of apologies and questions about your health.
You tell her your fine and that she's not at fault for any of this.
She doesn't accept that, saying that she's coming over tomorrow morning to check.
…Is everyone you know overprotective or something?
Then again… something happened to you… so its probably expected?
Hm. Thought for later.
You idly chat with Alice… well she chats with you, a rapid fire string of messages about what she's been up to these last few days and trying to organize another shopping trip.
Your last one didn't end like she wanted apparently, you can't guess why.
Alice does let slip that she's apparently the daughter of someone influential… She doesn't say who, but you probably should know who that is already, you guess.
You try to pry a little more from her as she rambles about her day. But give up when she doesn't really answer those questions.
Well she does. But the answers confuse you with how many tangents she goes on.
Satsuki replies during another rant from Alice about how all the boys in class are idiots for some reason.
Her reply is a direct contrast to Alice… one giant paragraph that seems to explain her entire day to you.
You realize that she goes to the same school as you… huh
And that she's in the class across from you… double huh.
That's…
Weirdly convenient.
This is another trick of Fate or something isn't it…
A shake of your head and sigh.
Now both girls are chatting about their day. Alice in a rapid fire while Satsuki explains in long and meticulous detail.
You do your best to manage the two extremely social girls with your… two days? Of social experience.
It goes… okay you want to say.
Satsuki bids you good night after an hour or two, not revealing anything important about her to you… though she apparently likes blondes. And icecream. And cakes of any kind really.
You got a little distracted chatting about different types of cake. Shes really into that stuff apparently.
Alice on the other hand, takes another hour of convincing that you're fine and that no, you don't need her nearby to rest.
You're pretty sure either of your parents are more dangerous than a single Alice.
For the sake of quieting her, you tell her goodnight, and then add a love you.
Mainly to mess with her.
Apparently it works with how her messages stop dead.
Perfect.
Tiredness hits you.
A surge of energy you didn't know you were feeling petering out as your eyes close.
Blankets warm.
And for once. You get to sleep without having had to deal with some high adrenaline fight for your life.
You really do need to protect this.
Your plan for the day (Plan based voting)
A/N: Your morning will be taken up by school. You'll be meeting Alice on the way to school. As such, only afternoon and night options are available for now. But your cores will be healed enough for practice tomorrow if you so desire.
Afternoon:
[x] Meet up with someone:
[] Alice (And Do What?)
[] Satsuki (And Do What?)
[] Someone Else? (Write in)
[x] Research someone? (Who) (Gives information on a person.)
[x] Practice with your cores. (NOTE: This is only available once per day)
[]Your Void Core, try and activate it for a more… active use (Unlocks Void Core Charges) (+1 to Void Core Mastery)
[]Your Chrono Core, focus and try to manipulate time around you a little faster, slowing it down with less time taken to do so (+1 to Chrono Core Mastery)
[x] Go out and practice with one of your weapons (10% Chance to gain a new ability) (NOTE: This is only available once per day).
[]Gae Bolg
[]Curtana (Sonic Blaster form)
[]Curtana (Sword Form)
[]Grendel's Arm
[x] Something else? (Write in)
Night, After dinner:
[x] Chat with your parents. Maybe ask them some questions.
(What do you ask?)
[x] Chat with Lillia. (About what?)
[x] Chat with someone else (Can be multiple people)
[] Alice (About what?)
[] Satsuki (About what?)
[] Elly (About what?)
[x] Research someone? (Who) (Gives information on a person.)
[x] Practice with your cores. (NOTE: This is only available once per day)
[]Your Void Core, try and activate it for a more… active use (Unlocks Void Core Charges) (+1 to Void Core Mastery)
[]Your Chrono Core, focus and try to manipulate time around you a little faster, slowing it down with less time taken to do so (+1 to Chrono Core Mastery)
[x] Go out and practice with one of your weapons (10% Chance to gain a new ability) (NOTE: This is only available once per day).
[]Gae Bolg
[]Curtana (Sonic Blaster form)
[]Curtana (Sword Form)
[]Grendel's Arm
[x] Go out and try to attract the Magical girls to you. Not available as your cores are not mastered enough for you to try this yet.
[x] Call Number 20 and buy something? (What?) (All items are 50+ Shards) (Can get you anything you want~, within reason)
[x] Go out and hunt a rift (Can take up to two).
[] Tier 1 (2 Available)
[] Tier 2 (2 Available)
[]Tier 3 (1 Available)
[x] Something else?