Regina was quite lost after she managed to escape that succubus with a few wounds, she ran back into the mist and honestly she was quite lucky that the swarm of imps that the succubus was talking focused more on the others than her. She only had to deal with a few imps on her way.
After a few minutes the entire mist suddenly cleared which startled her but she figured the others must of killed the succubus and dealt with the imps. She let out a sigh of relief as she walked through the forest trying to find the others.
After a while she managed to find them they looked a little out of it like they just saw the strangest thing in the world. Regina tapped on Amanda's back which startled her causing her to draw her rapier but she paused right before her rapier could scratch Regina's neck.
"Haaa~ you scared me there... Why'd you sneak up on me?!" Amanda pouted her mana cloak turning off as she relaxed.
"Jeeze, why'd you react like that? didn't you kill that succubus?" Regina took a step back also startled by Amanda's sudden move. The others also looked back at them and Arron was delighted to see Regina.
"Regina! You're alive!" He exclaimed which earned him a glare from Regina.
"Who the hell do you think I am? A weakling?!" She was annoyed that he ever thought she would perish in the mist. Arron scratched the back of his head with a smile.
"Haa~ well at least you killed that succubus..." She shook her head calming her nerves and she paused feeling the silence. She looked back up at Arron who avoided eye contact, "You killed her right?"
"Well I wouldn't say we did it..." Suzi spoke up rubbing her neck as she had just been held hostage.
Evelyn decided to speak up and explain, "There was a strange woman that appeared, she gave me the creeps." Evelyn said with a stoic expression while shivering and hugging herself which looked sort of comical in Regina's opinion.
"Yeah! She kept staring at me with those creepy glowy amber eyes..." Amanda shivered, "She had this orange hair and she killed the succubus in a few hits!!!" Amanda exclaimed throwing her hands in the air in exasperation, "Can you believe that!"
Regina froze, her body unable to move her breath quickened as her mind reeled, "Did you say orange hair?" She asked Amanda her voice low and quiet.
Amanda looked at her weirdly, "Yeah...? She was wearing a suit and gloves, she also had a top hat on her head." She said hovering her hand over her head.
"You said she was a strange woman?" Regina asked looking at her with slightly trembling irises.
"Yeah?" Amanda tilted her head in confusion.
"Oh no..." Regina put her hand on her head scratching her scalp in stress, "What did she do? Tell me everything she did!" She put her hands on Amanda's shoulders which startled the princess.
"A-ah, sh-she just appeared killed the demon and talked with us for a few seconds before she disappeared..." Amanda said confused at her friend's sudden strange behaviour.
"I-is that it?" Regina asked her grip on Amanda's shoulders tightening as if she refused to believe that was it... But then again that woman operated in strange ways, she was unpredictable...
"Yeah...? Yeah that's it?" Amanda put a finger on her lip in uncertainty and worry for her friend's strange behaviour.
Regina let out a prolonged sigh as she visibly relaxed, "Thank the gods..." She shook her head and looked back at them, "Let's go we have to leave now."
"O-okay?" Amanda looked at Regina weirdly before they started moving. The others also gave Regina strange looks but decided not to pry too much, Evelyn however, did not care abut things like that. She walked closer to Regina and spoke up.
"What is your relationship with that woman, she gave me a strange feeling... It felt like I should know who she is..." She whispered in her ear as they walked.
"It's personal, don't pry too much Lumine." She turned to Evelyn with slightly shaky irises, Regina raised an eyebrow at Evelyn's words but decided to dismiss her and not acknowledge her curiosity.
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, "Very well then." She walked away from Regina leaving her alone, Evelyn had just a slight curiosity but she wasn't sooo curious as to antagonize Regina, unlike a certain princess. So she simply dropped the matter and walked away.
"Fuck!" Regina cursed under her breath and started nibbling on her nail out of nervousness. If she was here... Then fate must have changed... Or did the demon king try to change fate and she corrected it? I have no clue... That woman... All she does is pick and choose whatever pleases her out of fate... She's changing fate to her own desires...
Her eyes drift over to Amanda who was walking while chatting with Arron, she occasionally scratched her back an uncomfortable expression etched on her face.
Did she actually have to awaken that inside of her so early? Was that really necessary? When she ordered me to make a situation where we can inject her with 9-D, I was really surprised. She had explained that the substance would awaken a power inside of her that would be useful later on. Regina truly wondered what that woman wanted the power of an angel for...
Regina had no clue what substance 9-D was or what it did. Her organization used it a few times and it was a substance the organization had researched for so long. It seemed to work since that woman came here herself just to check on Amanda and tweak fate a little, or at least that's what Regina assumed...
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It didn't take long for the barrier to fall down and for the principal to rush in only to find nothing, Reyna had seen that strange woman and it only doubled her effort at breaking the barrier since something unknown was something dangerous. Thankfully the students were alive, Reyna found it strange how the woman had just waltzed in saved the students and left, could it have been an out of heart action? Or was there more to it?
She quickly descended to check on the students flapping her wings. She looked over the students checking their wounds quickly before she departed, she would send someone over to collect them, or teleport them out of the arena once it was back online.
"Was your aunt always such a bitch?" Suzi asked looking up at the departing principal.
Amanda almost choked on her own spin, "D-Don't say that!!!" She punches Suzi's shoulder.
"But it's the truth! She could have flown us out but she didn't!" She yelled out rubbing the shoulder she got punched in.
"It doesn't matter if it's true or not! She's still my aunt and part of the royal family! If you insult her that could cause a lot of trouble for you!" Amanda shook her head, "And not only that, she's also the principal! you could face a lot of trouble just from insulting her!"
"Jeeze, okay! I understand! Stop yelling you're blowing up my ear drum!" She covered her ears hissing at Amanda's loud tone, Amanda huffed and crossed her arm.
Regina chuckled softly the tension from before leaving her body as she finally got to relax. The news that she was here had shook her a little, that woman was unpredictable she could level the entire academy if she thought it was funny. And Regina was not sure even the principal could beat her. That's why it had been shocking news to her that she was here but thankfully she seems to be planning far into the future, she doesn't seem to want to interfere much at this moment. And Regina appreciated that fact whole heartedly...
"what the hell are you planning..." Regina bit her lips hard enough to draw blood from the sheer nervousness she was feeling. "Medea..."
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Since the day Regina had met that woman everything had changed. At first Regina did not take the woman seriously just like she did with everyone else, but when Regina spent a few months with that organization she had seen so many things she wished she didn't have eyes to witness...
Especially things involving that woman...
She remembered a certain incident, there was a break in the research facilities of the organization, in a certain branch where they researched demon blood and the special properties their black blood holds and when Medea decided to pay a visit to that branch just for fun since she was interested in demons. Regina wished she had not been to that branch when she visited...
Medea strolled through the branch freely looking around and into the reinforced glass where some demons were held for experimentation. She had asked the head researcher what the expected results from researching their blood was and he answered...
"W-well your ladyship we are expecting to find several ways to improve medicine as you can see this type of demon is capable of regenerating limbs fully in mere hours, like they were never gone in the first place..." He gestured at the creature confined in the research room being cut up by magical machinery and the process was slow but it was visible. The creature thrashed around in pain as it slowly regenerated. The dismembered limbs were stored away for further research.
"Is that it? It just regenerates? Then what's the use of that when there already exists healing potions?" Medea slowly turned to the head researcher who broke out into a cold sweat thankfully he had a reply prepared.
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"Ah- Y-yes you see, healing potions if consumed too much can cause a disturbance in the life force and the normal people call it healing potion sickness... The difference between what we're developing and a normal healing potion takes advantage of the regenerative properties of these demons to never have to worry about healing potion sickness!" He hoped that was enough.
"Ah~ Yes that does indeed sound intriguing~" Medea smiled as she put her hand on the glass pane, Regina stood not too far from her she was on a visit here because she was a fairly new member she was visiting most of the branches and her visit here just so happened to coincide with Medea's visit which was quite unlucky on her part.
"And is that all this branch is developing?" Medea turned to the head researcher with a sweet smile, the head researcher smiled and shook his head.
"No, your lady ship~ You see we've made a great discovery~ we've learned of the existence of a foreign energy in the special blood of demons, we call it demonic energy, it seems to be the source of the special properties of some demons. This explains all the special abilities that some demons may possess while yes most still use mana but for these special abilities the demons have only demonic energy is consumed, for example this demon's healing factor comes from it's use of demonic energy. As you can see here."
He smiled and pointed at a certain screen with some numbers displayed on it with a blue bar at the bottom to show the levels of 'Mana', and a black one to show 'demonic energy' it was titled on the device.
"We've developed a device to detect these energies, and as it is clear on the display. Demonic energy is the only energy rampant in the research room while the demon is healing." He said pointing at the high number displayed for 'Demonic energy'.
Medea was quiet the entire time, her eyes remained locked on the screen occasionally lifting up to look at the demon. She was strangely expressionless as if she was contemplating something.
"I don't like this news." She said as she grabbed the head researcher by the throat and immediately crushed his throat under her iron grip. His blood spilled on the floor his eyes losing light in a single moment. Little 13 year old Regina gasped and stepped back sweating profusely her back hitting the wall.
"This news points out that this 'demon king' who's appeared only 500 years ago has enough potential to reach godhood. And I do not like this, to have an ability like that..." She muttered under her breath too low for Regina to hear. She slowly turned around to look at Regina's trembling and terrified figure.
Regina thought she was next but Medea just walked past her with an expressionless face. Her emotionlessness was a stark contrast to her usual demeanour, it gave Regina chills her blood running cold. Seeing this woman in such an unusually serious state was extremely unnerving...
She kicked the metal door off the wall and walked out. Regina slid down the wall trembling and sweating profusely as she held her knees close to her face. For the next hour or two all she could hear were the pained and terrific screams and wails of the damned. That day still haunted her truly, it was one of the horrors she had witnessed while in this organization.
She flinched each time there was a grotesque sound of flesh ripping and shrill horrific scream that could give any man nightmares for days, and it was especially effective on Regina's still underdeveloped mind...
She was the only survivor from that incident, Medea eradicated every single researcher staff member, test subject and prisoner... Medea had spared only her saying something like she was important for the mission or something of the likes, Regina was too traumatized to speak or understand anything at that moment.
The demonic blood research branch of the organization was eradicated erased from the records of the earth, the place the research facility used to be in was levelled in a single night erasing any evidence of it's existence after the order was put out by Medea and all for what? Because that woman did not like news she had received...
Regina was later given mental health care not by an order from her but as a protocol the organization put out for any organization members who have survived an incident revolving that woman.
The mental health care was very much appreciated as little 13 year old Regina's mind could not handle the atrocities sure she survived her castle's raiding but that was different on her escape she hadn't seen anyone dying all she heard was the sound of fighting... She could still remember the pained and shocked face of the head researcher's carcase falling on the floor with a thud... She could still hear the wails and screams of all those from the demonic blood research branch... Regina had very much regretted visiting that branch at that time...
Regina felt a hand on her shoulder while she was huddled in her chair in the resting area for the organization members, she looked up only to see a face holding a gentle smile... It was Martha, Regina's replacement of a maternal figure after her maid Marslen that raised her had died during the attack on the Cearyn kingdom castle.
When Regina had first arrived in this organization she was unfamiliar with everything and it was Martha who helped her through everything, the middle aged woman had practically fallen in love with little Regina, her heart broke apart when she saw such a small child so young being pulled into this organization, and especially by the lady herself, it was truly heart wrenching.
Martha was fairly high in the ranking of the organization and she often pulled some strings to get Regina special treatment. It was safe to say the older woman treated Regina like her own daughter and after hearing about her involvement in an incident involving Medea herself the lady herself, the first thing she did was ensure she got mental health care and she had her checked almost five times in both physical and mental departments before the doctors stopped her.
"Why are you so down?" She asked with a gentle smile as she sat down next to Regina patting her back.
"It's just... I still remember..." Regina shuddered a shiver running down her spine as she remembered the slacked jaw of the head researcher's carcass, it's eyes looking back into hers almost blaming her for not dying with them in that hell hole which was erased from existence by the order of a cruel being... She whimpered softly feeling a warm embrace enveloping her.
Regina was still a child then, she could not have handled the sight and the horrors the lady had done, that woman was unnatural cruel, horrifying, a creature that moves only for it's own entertainment... To hurt such a small and innocent kids like Regina... It was truly unfortunate that it had to be her. Martha's heart went out to the poor child in front of her.
"Ah, you're still thinking about that day? Regina, honey... It's best that you forget everything you saw, if you are having a hard time dealing with it, I can get the doctors to give you memory loss pills." She said squeezing her shoulder. Regina perked up at the mention of memory loss pills, they were called MLP's for short.
They were a more controlled version of the memory loss gas they had in those masks, when you swallow these pills it's much easier to control them and erase what you please in your memory with special machinery the organization developed and produced. Of course outside assistance is required.
"A-are you sure they'll give them to me?" Regina asked looking up at Martha with hopeful eyes, and she was met with a nod that honestly... Made her really happy.
"Of course! For some classified reasons I don't have access to, you are very important for one of the lady's important projects that she mentioned she was working on. If I just say that to the medical branch they'll hand them over weather they like it or not!" She offered Regina a wide smile which reassured her.
The red eyed girl felt a fuzzy feeling inside of her that was all too familiar, it was happiness... She was truly happy that she had such a reliable person on her side but...
"I'm sorry Margret... I-I want to keep these memories... I want to remember the atrocities I've seen so I can never let my guard down around here... Ever again." She said looking up at the woman with a determined look, rare on a traumatized child.
Martha was stumped for a moment but she smiled again a wider smile, "That's my girl!" She squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
Martha's heart melted with the sheer adorableness of Regina's expression she wrapped her arms around Regina hugging her tightly, Martha felt pride when looking at Regina's determined expression like a mother who watched her child mature... Regina hugged her back with a smile on her face.
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Regina was brought out of her memories by the loud sound of thunder outside her window. It was raining, she stood up and looked out of the window with a smile. "I'll be successful in this mission... I will make sure I can leave this organization alive and well!" She vowed with a determined look, of course she was not innocent herself she had done a few things that were considered cruel compared to normal people, but to that organization it was nothing.
Most of the time she was forced to do these monstrous things otherwise she will end up as a 'loose end' that needs to be tied if she were to refuse, purposefully fail, or run away from any of the missions given to her... It was clear Regina wanted out. She wanted out of this organization and if possible she wanted to bring Margret with her, thankfully the lady had promised to fulfil 3 wishes for her if she were to succeed in her current mission...
The mission to change fate.
Regina was given a lot of information that was unbelievable... she had been told by Medea herself in person a few events that will happen in the future. Another mystery added to this woman named Medea was that she seemed to somehow know the future... Because every time she was given information about future events it came true no matter what. Just like the recent incident, Medea had contacted her telling her that a demon attack would happen during the mid terms... However she did not expect the woman to interfere personally.
"I have to complete this mission..." Basically Regina was a mole planted in the 'future hero's party' as Medea called them, her group of friends, Arron, Adam, Evelyn, Amanda and Suzi... All of them were part of the hero's party and she was sent by Medea herself to influence some of their actions and change fate as she called it.
Her eyes drifted over to the circular device on her desk and she picked it up. This was the communicator Medea gave her that she used to communicate with her all the way here. Regina remembered the happy faces of her friends when they were all together... Having fun...
She felt terrible for tricking them, she felt like she was using them but then again she could not disobey orders... She remembered a certain face of a dark green haired boy and a small pink blush creeped on her face...
She resolved herself, "I will try my best to help my new friends... I can't keep changing their fate like this... Playing god with her friend's futures was just... It does not sit well with me... Who the hell does that woman think she is to change their fate like that?! They're my friends... I can't allow this..." She slammed her fist down on the desk sending a crack through it.
When Regina first arrived at prism she thought she would be able to influence the hero's party easily and effectively and get her peaceful life with Martha quickly and efficiently...
"Haha..." A wry smile crossed her face as she mocked herself finding irony in her previous thoughts, "I came here to change their fates... To trick them... I thought I could do it easily... I thought I could change them as she ordered without getting atached... I was such a fool! Hahaha... They ended up changing me." Her blood red eyes shown with determination.
"I'm sorry Martha... Our peaceful life will have to wait..." Regina remembered the kind smile the woman had offered her before she departed for prism and she felt her heart clench, "I will do this for my friends... I'm sorry..."
She let out a heavy breath as she looked out at the rainy scenery outside, "I will keep playing along with her plans for now... As long as she doesn't change things too much..." Unfortunately Regina had no clue what the true fate of her friends was she was only given glimpses like important events and given instructions on how to influence them... If there was an event Medea did not want to influence she simply did not give Regina any input.
"Agh... Not only for them... But for me too... I don't want them to end up with the fate she has planned for them... I just know it isn't a good fate..." Considering all the horrid actions that woman had committed it was bound to be a cruel fate...
Just today what she did to that demon was just cruel based on the description she had gotten later from Amanda. She ripped off it's arm, mocked it, humiliated it, made it feel prolonged pain and only then did she kill it... That was pretty docile compared to what she had done before...
Regina sighed and plopped herself down on her bed, "It's time to sleep... I'll worry about these things later..." She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.