COI C148
It is surprising right in front of her, Archivist carrying the demonic core. The size being minimize as it was large when he pulled it out. The core possessing neutral mana still under the influence of the demon’s power. Illtended and Altair could not believe it even they are holding her decks. Switching their view between here and there, the dust starts to flow once again as the wind blows throughout the ruins. It is the most successful moment for her to experience this fight, and the changes happened to him already show extraordinary.
Archivist explains his experience “The training we have together to use your cards are now improving my skills. It is still not strong enough against the runes. Your cards are able to manipulate them altogether. When will we use it on them?”
“Don’t try to make it any ideas using my deck. Yui warned me that the power it has is equivalent on my mana pressing on to it. Your strength is just as good as mine. The damage brings only you use it. The last moment you bring it down should gush forward inside of it and exploded. Yet, you control it and able to take the core out cleanly”
“I can control your powers like a tool on my hands, I am probably your blade and you’re the hand holds me”
While the two busy examined themselves. The two citizens hardly figure out what power potential it had upon those decks. They able to read the description, through their UI as it is being translated, even more so the definition is long paragraphs that fit inside the card. It doesn’t matter for them to keep on reading as they take every card with a picture. When it is done, they give it back to her. Illtended continue to insist.
“Even though, we didn’t help”
Archivist replies “Yet, she still gives you the ‘buff’, right?”
“Uh, yeah. We don’t how to use it since its temporary every time she uses another card”
Altair backs it off “That’s her magic item, we are truly unprepared but it is the usual buffs we give during our adventures”
Tabitha nodded “Yeah, that would be expected when you’re meeting a different class”
“Class? Then what kind of class are you then?”
“An enchantress slashed mage? you have read my cards, and I didn’t use my spell cards nor the special decks”
They checked their devices to see what those cards are. It is definitely what she had described. Th mage, the enchanter, and the fill card described as demonologist. Illtended scuffs off his mouth when he read it out loud
“Demonologist?! What kind of deck is that?”
Tabitha shakes her head as she sighs in grief “A random deck to mimic my enemies’ abilities. I don’t want to use it because their magic both mixed with positive, negative, and interactable to everyone”
They continue their conversation as they are going to the Taiyou Industries station. They secured the demon core and needed to be delivered there. Spokesman should be there with his field computer. It will be able to hold the demon core for them. While they are walking, they realize they should use magic. Altair asks them
“Why couldn’t you use your magic to go there quickly?”
Archivist carries openly as he is having difficulty trying to hide it into her inventory “It is complicated when you have a demonic core in my bag. It is still belonged to the demon and its magic persists to set itself free. I don’t know about demons’ puppets, but they are surely not being taken as trophies”
They reached the border and the Dexter Guild members scanned the object. It was the demonic core. The police are approaching at the border as they were about to reach the city barrier.
“Whoa there, it seems you are one of the rare few able to catch another core. Other guilds were successfully able to take down the demonic monsters here and there, but you seem to don’t know how this procedure work when coming inside the city without proper concealment”
The Dexter Guild members stop them “There is no need, she is an Enders or her partner is an Enders. We will take responsibility here, recorded it well”
The police look at them as they didn’t show themselves eye to eye, but in the business sense, they all surely acted professional on this matter.
“Ok, then please gives some papers to when, where, and what are you bringing the object inside the city. The demon core is a dangerous object”
Tabitha never heard such procedures, and obviously this the same step by step procedure back in their world. The difference is that they actually bringing demon inside.
Spokesman and Lilith are sensing some oddly essences. It’s like the demon is near without any sign being active, it is sleeping for some reasons. They hear it among their race. Invincible enough for other people tried to sneak in their network of communication. It is such a mess when it comes to demon cores.
“Such language, I can’t explain why that creature is actually a demon”
“They are involving this world to have the aftermath of war, and still continue fighting even though the world changes”
“Lilith, do you hear them?”
“Tsk! Dear, why didn’t you stop listening to their rambling? We have guests looking for us”
“Ah? Hello?” Tabitha and her group enter the field computer. Altair and Illtended were not expecting to go here in the slightest. The facility been placed out in the open, already feeling like they are entering a realm. Lilith watches Archivist places the demon core on the table.
“Yui’s craftsmanship had done greatly for Tabitha’s decks of cards”
“Quite sharp of words saying she had given her such valuable items”
“True, her items made her stronger. Do you think if she is the master of her weapons, will she ever be that strong?”
“Laugh* Are you compared her to Sanquin, my foolish boy?”
Spokesman checks the demon core. He knows about its quality and near deceptive if no one knows about it secrets. A pure neutral mana in front of them, it is the trickery of all magic. Archivist knows it as well, but why brought it here. He looks at Tabitha, her curiosity proven to be likely the cause. It is such a fine hour to teach these people about it. Illtended speaks out first
“Will this equipment all around us help to identify this demon core?”
“It can, but this is not the core to be utilized”
The core lies on the table, purely on mana. Spokesman reaches out his hand to casts the spell around it. The core didn’t interact and treated like it is just an orb that shines light red.
“If any you didn’t understand what you see. The core preserved itself not to be used. Mana control on this thing proven the might of the demon’s perseverance, and the monster you defeated will be reawaken again when the brown red cloud touches it. It is useless for you right now, unless you really need to use this core for its endless mana supply”
They watch him observing the core, and trying to interact with it somehow. Archivist knows he is playing around as they both know it, even Lilith herself, that the core is pure. Then she realizes his idea as he is about to pull.
“You should put in the mana battery”
Altair acted surprised “You sure!? You said this core can power up endless supply of mana”
“I don’t know what this powering up means, but it is still mana anyway. The mana battery doesn’t belong to anyone and collecting the core like this is like the source of a water spring. Demonic mana is something different if you put into scrolls, then again, it requires more high value materials”
Illtended isn’t sure to make this demonic core as mana supply for their batteries. “Can we able to do it?”
“For now, this is not the importance for advancement. We still have to stop the returning sieges. Using this core to fight back means giving it back to the demon’s power”
Spokesman returns back to his computer and acting like he is typing. Giving him time as he need to find the correct words to tell them. The city guild is always eyeing on their progress. Everyday. They come to this facility wanting the secrets of Enders Bridge finest equipment to replicate.
Tabitha was the prime example when she trained inside the ruins. Her cards are personal, can’t be taken nor used by others. Yui’s had done too much for her or was Tabitha’s powers emphasize her cards. The sounds of the returning train to the station, blissfully coming by as he is now waiting for the moment to say. Lilith senses them too, both of their acknowledgements were profound and more to it that Dexter Guild should take advantage of it from the start. It is clear they follow their traditions to Rune Isles, and this city provide the materials they need to fulfill their need before something happens.
The Enders walked out from the train, holding the banners of their respective guild. All five banner keepers going out first, then the rest of the guild members. Tabitha and the others heard them as they walk out and see. Lilith said to her husband
“A coincidence, and we are here with the core. They could be useful for them”
“Where are in luck, my dear, Tabitha is being blessed by the Lady’s prayer”
“Giggle* Was she praying for me then, my dear?”
“Probably praying for all of us from what I remember their scriptures”
Illtended sees them, more Enders guilds coming to this city. Without any personnel from the government to greet them, this must mean they are here for their own accord. They moved pass them as one of them turn to look at the field computer. The group separated each other where some checked on the facility. The field computer it’s known for not letting others to get in, as it turns invisible when they get there using magic. While they rode on the train, the defensive mechanism is being negated and see the facility in front of them.
The workers and the Dexter Guild watch some of them entered the facility. The workers couldn’t see it while the Dexter Guild members saw it nice and clear from the distance, they entered the facility with ease. Spokesman sees them, surprised that they are wearing citizens’ casual clothing rather than the usual protective journeyman’s equipment. It is hard to recognize them as they look fashionable than most. Even the young ladies look more what the citizens called them cute.
“They are already collecting the cores, aren’t they?”
“More likely we did it by accident, you understand that this one is rune heavy. Runes are easy to deal with”
“Quite disappointing, and I fear that Isekai City had mastered the use of runes. Their dependency on their magic still persists?”
“Time is too short for them to master quickly. Even they are blessed with enormous amount of mana and providing guidance through their traits. It will be tested in the end when facing their struggles”
The demon core is right in front of them. Still, it has its uses after the siege, when its glow persists, and then it means its existence is alive and well. Taken away its mana is hard because of its strong will. It requires time and effort to peel it off its layers or melt it in due time. Spokesman is minding his own business, yet he still wonders to why they all well customed to this city.
Stolen story; please report.
“May I mind asking, why are you here with such kind of formality? Did I have not realized that our city accepted it?”
Tabitha and the others went back in as they heard how the Enders talk about their city. The guild members respectfully answered “It’s business, just like the Dexter Guild is willing to help this place. The agreement is active until the next 2 more months. I can’t say much for the words of our leaders per say. I’m assured, the city thought we are joining the fight too. Disagreeably, our resources were told to be lethal. Is that right?”
Others following it up “I’ve seen our station checks on us for illegal substance to prohibit materials and equipment. You already see how we look”
“I see, but would you care to borrow theirs”
Illtended watches them shakes their heads and begin their leaves. Not a one says a word as they look each other in the eyes. He breaks the silent and said,
“I have been needing to ask . . .”
They immediately respond “Tell us, since you entered this facility too with trust”
Illtended looks at them showing their manner and formality, from the way they look in their casual clothes. It is a bit awkward and at the same time reasonable since they are not allowed to bring dangerous equipment.
“. . . Yeah well, what are you guys going to do here exactly?”
A woman confronted him, looking pretty with a beret and a barrette holds her hair dangling near her neck,
“Utilizing the effort in the ruins, we are providing the support to set up magic circles to your groups or segregating the areas from the monsters in between the stronger ones. We also included to use of your gems as resources for fixing your magic items”
Altair hears their offer, and the gems can be useful. The Agatheans were the most affected on the magic circle, even if the citizens holding the circle’s integrity. Who will be strong enough to beat the monsters from within?
Illtended has nothing else to say and gives his farewell. They moved on and then they meet Tabitha and Archivist. Wearing the same as theirs, it is clearly they too have followed the city’s law. The woman with the beret notices her card holder on her waist. She looks at the Tabitha in the eye after looking at her deck
“Say to my regards to Demyr’ankr for me” Then walks away.
The guilds left, leaving them to their own imagination hearing the name ‘Demyr’ankr’.
Tabitha asks “Who is Demyr’ankr?”
Archivist shows his grin look with nervous eyes on his mask “That’s Yui’s both last names”
“Both last names? Then why it is a full name when I hear it”
Spokesman explained it to her “That is her culture in regards of names. Their names are always had minimum and maximum of one to two syllables. They put together from the father and mother preferred first names and their first last names. For the last names are special. For example; Demyr’Ydrin and Ankr’Eyuld are together will end with Demyr’ankr or Ankr’demyr. If married outside of their culture, it will rewrite to fit their own version of last names like Eyuld’krin and Sahmashra to Shmshra’eyuld or vice versa”
Tabitha, Illtended, and Altair heard something to the first time can’t be translated. They never thought to learn something about name culture really put their eyes in a different perspective. Spokesman continues
“The woman who says her regards to you is probably have the same culture. You bet Oue knows about her too even without asking her name?”
In the meantime, Tabitha already sends the message to Kiege, then she responded immediately who that woman is. Still whispering through the partial bind
“Yup, she is the same girl who helped her design your preferences. She did the color schemes while interacting with magic”
Without them knowing, she looks at her clothes. She switches her robes color from dark violet rune markings and sea water blue whole, then back to light yellow outlines, white filling, and her lower half is light brown like it looks like a long skirt. Then she looks at her wand is identical from the images she gives it to Yui as samples. The glimpse of rune magic hidden inside as it matches her robe. Archivist’s bind sense her feeling of joy with her equipment, and stops her then return to their conversation.
After that encounter, they leave the facility, leaving behind the core for safety reasons. They see the same woman walks out from the city barrier with only one partner with her, while she uses her handkerchief to cover her mouth from the dust. Her partner carrying to her side with stacks of water bottles that cleans off the dust. Tabitha reaches out to them
“Hey! Are you already setting out?”
The other woman sees her coming “Ah? who are you?”
The woman with the beret pokes her partner and apologizes to Tabitha. “Pardon my friend, we are going to meet a guild to resupply their water supplies”
“Yeah, I’m sorry, but I would like to be part in your little team” The woman with a beret looks at Tabitha’s team, the confused look on her face to have two citizens even the woman herself are showing their presence of power. She moves on with her partner and said as they leave.
“Follow us for a bit, we need first doing our errands before joining you”
Tabitha seems like she already okay to be with her, she then introduces to her companions while they walk.
“By the way, I’m . . .”
The woman’s companion says first. “We know, and also those two; Illtended and Altair, right?”
She pointed to them with their names announced. They were surprised that they knew their names and what they look like. She continues
“For you people want to know how we know your names, let’s first introduce ours. I’m Syri and this woman, who actually knows you, is Fay’mae”
Archivist flinches when he heard the name pronounce like that. The other three didn’t understand it and treated as a name. Tabitha has the right mind to gives her a nickname.
“Can I just call you Faye?”
Fay’mae turns her head around and look at her seriously, with a slight grin with her cute face and said “Sure, sounds like you can’t pronounce my name”
Others tried to say her names. Altair tries it “Fay’mae and Syri, did it sound right to you?”
Syri laughs “Sounds like my translation says Fame and Serie, would you mind trying saying Oue’jhnr?”
Illtended can’t define what she just said, and tries it any way. He brokenly pronounced
“Oue’jhnr”
Then their translation shows nothing “I guess Oue’s name is also difficult to pronounce”
Archivist thought she is one of them like Yui, they have this strong pride in their names as it was given by their parents. They didn’t know that their names are references to magic chanting, original magic spells. Only he had witnessed such magic when Yui uses it on Sanquin. It is hard to differentiate when using neutral mana and unstable spells. Faye walks with Syri as the two citizens offered to help her carrying the stacks of bottles. Tabitha is looking at them as they are showing friendly terms. The only thing left is their guild masters for letting them visit here, knowing too well that they have no good views in this city.
The Victory Rooks guild members were rested enough and the other city guild members finally to move on after their hour break. They saw two young women, wearing casual clothes here in the ruins. No protection and look so well in fashion as if they are going to have fun in the city. One of them uses a scanner to check that were fooled from what they saw. It was
“This must be the Enders the city guild had sent us. Why are they looking like that?”
They wave at them as they saw Illtended and Altair are with them. The face shows apologetic as they hear their conversation.
“. . . We didn’t know, even your own gears are not allowed because of its Rune Isles’ materials”
“We’re sorry, I thought you guys are trying to blend in, but you guys look rather hot with that get up of yours”
Illtended honestly said it to them. The two smiles back at him out of respect, they don’t like to be compliment with their eyes honestly sharpening their gazes at him
“These clothes were sent from your city. What’s with these multiple pieces of clothing we have to wear one after the other?”
Tabitha nods “Yeah, I think they give you clothes with brands in them. I suspect they want to show it off to the city in regards for fashion”
Faye takes a deep breathe then picks one of the bottles to drink. Gulps down to ease her frustration “Refresh* Now I know why Oue wants me to design your clothes from the very start. She is not going to make you wear every small thing that these clothes I’m wearing”
Syri stops them as they meet the guild. “Let’s stop here, and let’s talk about it after this. I am already raised my patience at high”
The guild members reach out to them. “Hello, we’re from the city guild and this other guild is from Victory Rooks. Are you two the one we are expecting? The Enders?”
Both of them clearly wearing casual clothes. Stylish and more attractive because of their cosmetic clothes such as accessories and designed clothing. Their skirts are what they expect that is designed from Isekai City, above the knee no less. Yet their physique is clearly fine to other average citizens to see. The woman who is a city guild adventurer tries to meet them.
She opposed them because of how they look. She releases her auras, as the others back away. Syri is reacting to her presence and immediately retaliate, she uses her earrings to pull a bead out from it then throws at her. The woman quickly reacted and catches it. The bead burst out and suddenly absorbed her aura. Her aura was quickly gone and kneels down as her body is aching from the previous fight. All the healing placed on her just vanished and the pain surges back to her body.
Syri rushes forward as she pulls the woman’s head up. The woman’s body recovered but her aura is gone.
“What did you do to me?”
“I say the same thing when you use your aura. You know I don’t have resistance on your intimidating presence. I reacted and we end up like this. So please, understand how me and my partner are not citizens including the clothes we are wearing are not for resisting your powers too”
Syri let’s go of her. Then the woman sees her giving her a hand as she grabs it. The bead returns her aura. The aura returns and Syri suddenly react. The woman quickly removes it as she forgets
“Sorry”
The guilds know that the Enders are here not to fight, but to help them utilize their opportunity to collect more valuable loots from the monsters. Enders possessing powerful items from Rune Isles are very dangerous among the citizens. The agreement was so painfully carried out as they have to wear low quality equipment. Yet, these Enders need their own equipment to their own personal use. They don’t trust the city’s materials and made their own according to the regulation. It gotten worse when they demanded the appearance.
The Enders who have come here follow it, and they sure know how to tolerate it for their guild masters and mistresses. The first impression was bad, but it was all over once they begin. The four waited for the two to finish. Syri didn’t make a circle but a long area she drew, the drawing was massive as it reaches block after block across the road. The guild shows them the location they want the monster to appear. The earrings she worn removed, takes the pieces of it, and lays it on the ground. While on the ground the bead turned to dust as it starts to move itself slowly.
The dust follows as she uses minimal amount of mana as she can. The way she guided the dust along the bead follows the drawing. Carefully guiding the dust to be as thin as it can’t blocked its mana path, it turns into a small miniscule tunnel as it goes. The citizens watch the dust from the bead to go as it spreads, different drawings as if it passed around the monsters they shouldn’t face and surrounding the monsters they want to face. It wasn’t that long until they see the magic circle deceptively in place. It took them sometime to prepare and they done it neatly.
The dust formation though is different. It portrays like she will guide it somewhere when it is being used. Cleverly trying to make it work. While the other is safe enough to form a barrier around them. Syri takes it slowly as she moves on to the next. Faye steps in as they called out to them.
“It’s done, everyone who is ready. Get inside over there”
“Done? Your partner is not finished yet”
“Do you think you can wait that long where you can see how slow she is drawing another magic circle? Get in there and earn your rights”
The Agatheans listened to her, they have nothing to complain and just follow what the city guild expected them to do. They wanted to lessen the numbers, and so they did at any means. Faye looks at them as they look at her of how she dressed. The citizens were the one who is eyeing her because of her cute dress. The beret and the barrette attached close to her neck with her long-dressed hair. Her sweater like top showing her skin as it wrapped to her shoulder. her strapped top held firm down to her waist, short skirt reaching top of her knees, and the leather long boots that has ribbons on the laces. She barely had any signs of a fighter in her casual clothes.
Then they stop looking at her as the magic drawings are channeling. The magic surging suddenly quickly into the ground as the dust tried to absorb it. It can’t as the exterior is thin but solid enough not to block the flow of the circle. The structure inside of the mana pathing of the drawings start interacting each other as it breaks within different amount on its thickness and layers. It bursts up to the air as it starts to curl like a dome. The brown red cloud appeared as the sudden impulse blasting to the air removing the bomb’s effects.
The layers are done so well as the body appeared like a terrain. Their cores were not materializing as the drawings give enough spacing without it to reawaken. The monsters they can’t face become the terrain, while the others are in full flesh. The guild members quickly took action as they are fighting the monsters they wanted. It’s tight, but no random weak mobs, just monsters they wanted to loot. Thanks to the tight corners, they can predict where the cores will bounce off to. The monsters fell while being trapped in tight spaces. The magic circle wears off as the last presence of the monsters are gone.
The adventurers have enough energy to continue, Faye reaches out to them in the loud voice. “Follow the magic flow, you’re not done yet”
They look down on the ground and clearly see the remaining mana continue to flow, connecting the line like it is a mechanical fluid system. It channels in the current mechanism then release it to the next one. They didn’t expect they have to do it soon. It thrills the citizens for the next round. The Agatheans, with the mana remaining in them, could resupply the flow while they are inside the dome.
It keeps going on until one of them slowly out from the dome. Their fatigue is straining on their bodies, including the citizens themselves. The slight exposure to the brown red cloud is hindering their resistance. Their bodies lose their buffs as the cloud eventually negate them fully. The magic circles still keep going as Syri finally finishes the last one. She looks at the guild as the last remaining dome is appearing. She shouted at Faye
“I don’t think they could go on. Tell Tabitha to help them on this”
Tabitha and her friends were being called. Altair and Iltended joined along after witnessing the cause and effects of their magic circles. It never stopped and continues to activate after the fight is over. They are making mechanisms with correct timing, as the last one is in static. The group made it in, including the two Enders women.
“Finally! we can fight” Faye says it loud only having no fighting weapon on hand.
Illtended speaks it out “Uhm, you guys seem not well equipped”
“Of course not, your city guards will take it away. You remember what I said how annoying it is to not use our full abilities”
Faye is acting up with pride as she can’t hold herself. Archivist finally sees what he had expected on them. The arrogance of the city to take away what they are proved useful but harmful to the citizens. Syri is adding the conversation
“We are wearing a dress with powerful defensive magic. It doesn’t mean exterminating those monsters”
Tabitha responds “Then why are you joining this fight?”
Faye answered “You asked, and I know that equipment you are using is made by Oue. Those personal items, give me your equipment weren’t used yet”
Tabitha gives her the unique deck and the wand. Syri takes the deck and reads it, while Faye takes the wand and forms an aura to absorb the surrounding brown red cloud with it. Negating its negative effects and also consuming the negative mana. Faye held it in the air, but Syri interrupts her.
“This deck has demonologist cards. You take it, this is supposed to be your specialty, manipulating like a demon”
“How on this world able to have that kind of deck . . . Oue? She really did face a demon before”
They switch their items as they prepared.
Altair and Tabitha stand side by side while Archivist and Illtended sends themselves to the front.
“This is going to be the first time fighting with you guys. Let’s see how we can do together”
Giving confidence with Illtended praises, the dome suddenly expands wider than ever before. The look of their eyes as they turn to Faye as she uses the cards. Tabitha couldn’t believe she plays that bad card. ‘Greed or Envy’, the demonologist card to strengthen the area and attract anyone’s attention. It got worse when they see one of the demons’ puppets appeared, a monster that is even hideous than they have imagined.