COI C127
Flash back where they meet, Tabitha and with her friends along with the old man. The old man tries to calm down the kids “Now, now. Your parents will be worried if you cry like that”
“Sob* Where’s mama? It’s been a week and she still not her”
The children had cause of chain reactions where more kids started crying. The man is standing by, helping the kids get distracted. Acting ridiculous of being a hero, the kids were calmed down a bit. Tabitha helps the old man back to their rooms. The rest of her friends continue to work on taking care of the kids’ mess.
“Ah man, those kids are starting to figure out that this is not the world we live in”
“Well, I was the one who is handling the kids all day. They are as monsters as they were even with their parents watching me”
“Of course, you were working on a daycare. Magneto”
The man stood there silently who loves the Marvel comics. Calling him that and acting like a good father for the kids, and for him knows the lore of the story. Anyway, the old man makes fun of him.
“Hey Magnet, still practicing your magnetic spells”
“Haha, very funny. I know how to alternate it into electricity to form magnetism. If I know how to use it”
They laugh as the time back then was miserable but bearable at the same time. Learning to use magic and hiding from the presence of the demons, for a large city with many displaced people trying to keep themselves together. When that time was the construction of the Foundation. It was a simpler time, and Magnet said to Tabitha
“Just wait and see, I can use magnetic polarization with magic. Even it looks like I casting lightning, but the thought counts, right?”
Later those days Magneto and the rest heard the old man’s news “Where are the kids!?”
“Shit! Where are they gone to? They just went out one morning and they never come back. Who is the one who watch over them?”
. . .
“No! We are not the one who take them out to the forest. Tabitha, come with us before something happened to them”
. . .
“AH! Why would they hurt us? Why our own people betray something like that? Everyone, go back before . . . AAH!”
. . .
“I survive!? FUCK! I can’t rescue them. Those bastards are tricking the kids to go deep into the forest”
Tabitha remembered that her friends never came back. After magneto returned injured under the care of the elves, he fell into depression of how he wasn’t able to rescue them. They are too many and skilled using their powers. It was his greatest fault to himself. Tabitha tried to go to the forest one more time. But the trails are already gone, when she comes back. The old man is already carrying the dead body coming from Magneto’s apartment. The old man grief
“I’m sorry, Magnet moved on”
All flashing through her head as she cries. The identity of Magneto is replaced to man who looks identical calls himself Magnet. This is what the old man talks about. She can’t bear to figure it out more as her trait is surrounded by numerous people who are threats to her. She can’t do it. She touches her face but was covered with Archivist mask. Archivist bends through her pale face away and drained off her sorrow off from her face. He pulls off the mask and wears it back. He said to her
“Is it time for you to solve this?”
“Not now, I need to think. Rather we just leave and let me rest. This is too much. That person looks identical but he didn’t give the same kind expression. He was too loving to lose so much”
Archivist sees the police is apprehending someone. The way he wears look casual but the way he acted out as if he is being persecuted. He knows that man is an Enders. Tabitha sees him going to the police
“Archivist, where are you going?”
The police bringing the man out from the vicinity, shuts the man’s mouth and easily restricted him without any problem. The man is clearly a Horsin, quite daring to be here and the most dangerous part is. Archivist comes to his aid.
“That man is one of the Enders”
“Enders? This man is being a nuisance here. Oh, what the heck, take him with you. He is causing problem for acting part of a cult”
Cults, mostly infamous to talk about in Isekai City. The Horsin don’t know why that they judge religious practices as cults. Never seen an example out in the public, and won’t be as they were ashamed and ridiculed by the public. More importantly, it is still active to this day. Either be big churches or big group organizations, these people kept it to themselves. Also, they shouldn’t be open too because of the incidents of demonic interventions. The people stare harshly to the man who questions them, and the man himself had gained the impression negatively.
Tabitha was not sure if Archivist wants him to join them. They have in common is to leave this place, the man refused, then he feels the grasp of Archivist’s hand. Not familiar of his powers, and surely not powerful enough to be among the citizens. He had to comply as they finally leave the place. She was so relief to quickly resolve this situation. The police returned back to their assigned areas whereas everybody looks at them in disgust.
“What’s with that guy’s problem? Trying to speak out ‘religion’”
“We weren’t even being a bother and that random guy come out of nowhere”
“It’s fine there are also nutjobs, and those kind people are escorting him out”
“Good riddance”
Out from Fuku City, the man is standing in front of the two. The emblem was already showing on his badge on his left chest. Tabitha thought something on her nerve gives on given, her trait is settling down, finally. Now in her own instinct kicks in from experience, she said to him
“Are you one of Lady Constantine’s guild member?”
“Well, of course. Have patience with me, are you here to seek her?”
“NO! I mean, I was wondering why her own people is here in this part of the city”
“You could say I’m a missionary. I was observing a lot throughout those disturbing secrets”
“What secrets?”
“There is no need for you to know. I have brought myself to be hostile because of that. Let me be on my way”
Tabitha wants to tell him something, Archivist stops her “Let him go, your enlightenment seems not fulfilled”
“I know that, but what’s with him going around the city”
“Lady Constantine’s guild, Not Worthy, is a complex organization. For now, that man acts like a missionary. I don’t think many people wouldn’t want him to lecture about faith”
“Those people, we called them scammers for wanting money in return for what they pretend to offer”
“Sounds like a demon plays god, but that man seems he already know about something”
Tabitha shouts at the man “What’s your name?!”
The man turns with a polite manner “It’s Azin, no need for your introduction. Tabitha of Isekai City”
He left as he brings out a magic item. The object appeared floating above him, then vanished. Tabitha notices that the powers he wields is identical in strength for the average citizens.
“That man, what powers do he have?”
“A missionary, of course. All of them has a powerful item to survive against prosecutions. I guess that’s why he allows himself to be taken away. That man can become your equal, Tabitha”
She looks back to Fuku City at the entrance. Something is not right, and won’t be that easy to face from what is happening now. She frustrates herself as she tries to contact with Kiege.
Later that same day, hidden inside the land near the undergrown. Stylized to benefits the taste to the Enders women, the sisterhood is continuing the observation processing the information they have after the siege. Troublesome to their own progress throughout the week, it is not that difficult to make a counter assault after what happened. The men of Enders are steadily surrounding the undergrown with vast stretch of encirclement. More and more strong will, original guilds are here, except for the Dexter Guild. They hear again another message from their city.
“The defense went smoothly, what lethal experiments did they come up with to protect our city with their pathetic numbers”
“I am just glad were away from their delusional projects . . .”
“Delusional projects? They are from the scientist groups. They even called their version of mana as Archscience. That definition puts up a lot of effort to think that the mana is god”
“Hah, neutral mana for this world, runes for the dwarves, shamanism for the goblins, and elven magic for the elves, are clearly not made by any living. It is clearly made by the gods”
Women fester their voices on the tales of gods gifted them with mana. There to say of their acts of religious intention to spread as their true ideals to this world. Straightforward to a conclusion that might hurt the opinions for the citizens. One woman from Dexter Guild, a technocrat, with a badge of high position but no authority. Only she had is the access of special tech she can able to fend off against powerful foes. Another message by her codices in Isekai City, everything went out of the ordinary.
She left the room until she was stop. “Hey, you got a minute. No, I mean. Ma’am! Permission to . . .”
“Stop! I get it, don’t messed up my dialogue”
She turns around with her lens already scanning the person who’s talking. Data opened quickly and respectfully indirectly by R-cord. This person is probably is relating to the collaboration program. Heard of them, but not like this. An icon that shows a second page, this is something she had never been aware for no page links. Yet, there it is.
The two goes to a private quarter, under the name Raker Mawn Guild. She knew R-cord has the guild member’s information, while McS4 never too fond of tech that won’t survive his high esteem pyromania and high voltage heavy weapons. This means this person wants something to know about her guild. Kiege takes a seat and offers to the side. The room is clearly from Yui and Sanquin, bordered themselves into two segment rooms. Their equipment and loots are all over the place as it shown two sides facing each other. It’s clean though, just to make it less intimidating.
Juela comes from the Yui’s side of the room. She sees a different guild member with Kiege. “So, you’re going to help Tabitha then. I know she is having trouble. It feels like we just hand holding her. She should let her do her own thing”
“Well, yeah but I need to prove to you that she is in a predicament to get her enlightenment”
The woman raises her eyes slightly in questions “Enlightenment? What kind of meditation is your companion doing?”
Kiege didn’t hold back and said to her “I want to know how far do you know about the city. Our companion is from Isekai City and . . .”
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The woman raises her hand to silent her words “There’s no need for the excessive trivia. What is she doing inside the city?”
Kiege scuffs it as she already getting to that part, she continues “You know about the situation inside the city. Are your guild starts to getting the itch to discover?”
“Lady Coheld stops the private matters among my guild members. But it doesn’t mean the samples were away from them either”
“Yeah, cough* right. Do you know the cases about Fuku City?”
“Classified!”
“I knew it”
Juela watches them to see how Kiege is trying to make good wordings to make it like they are in a secret conversation. The obvious name give away is already stopping her to talk. The woman responds
“I thought you know how to talk, but it seems you already blow it”
Kiege only got that line from Haw. The introduction is easy, and the only thing is difficult is the content in between. What did he say again to handle this conversation? Her mind chambers itself with nothing too complex. Yet, even complex she thinks off are commonly the same like she is just catch phrasing.
“It’s complicated”
There it goes, she is now blocking her own train of thoughts. She still bears the will to help Tabitha, as the secrets are now spreading so daringly. The woman sees Kiege’s expression has the relatable determination. No wits on words, and nothing else she could speak.
Out of pithy through the woman’s numb expression, she said to Kiege “As of Tabitha, I have records of her building up her equipment through my guild. I’d say, she has the item with no experience. If you want her to go through the secrets lie inside of her own city, it is beneficial for her to take her time to go through where Enders and citizens are interacting one another”
“That would take her too long, your guild is busy doing other stuff”
“Sigh* You there! do you understand what I’m saying?”
Juela rubs her chin “I think so”
“Good, there is nothing more I could say before my guild suspects”
As she left, Kiege gives a loud frustration. “Such a waste of time for my break. Juela, tell me more about the detail later. I need to go”
Juela thinks carefully how she said to Kiege and her. Tabitha needs help, and the Enders in Isekai City is very limited except for the handful of Dexter Guild. She thinks about their private matters being halted, when did it happen; before or after? Finally, it is the interaction between the Enders and the citizens. To make it easy for her to think, she could say it out loud
“Rivalries, the most common interaction could be . . . That’s it . . . TECH!”
Juela goes back to Yui’s room and write it on a paper for Kiege to understand, and at the same time, she gives instructions for Tabitha. Juela cooperated with Dexter Guild years ago, and the way they station inside Rune Isles are indeed impressive to hide near where the monsters are. If it is true, then their secret base is lying hiding separately to mock meeting areas. She needs to write Tabitha more information than she had thought. For the rest of the day as the progress went still, because Dexter Guild had made things harder for the other guild to find out on their own.
The next morning, Tabitha was being piled on softly through Kiege’s bored voice. There is a way she could continue on and to know the secrets of Fuku City, and promised she kept it a secret from all the people in Isekai City. Except for the people Juela recommended for help. It was Ironno and Spokesman. Strange how Haw wasn’t part of the secrecy, but time shouldn’t be wasted. She wants to see why her trait building so much tension she had gone through. After a long discussion, she is finally going to Spokesman as soon as possible. Archivist hears her and the one who explain it to Spokesman.
Spokesman nods and said to them briefly “Acting like my wife Lilith, I see. Laughs* I shouldn’t be joking around about this. I clearly understand that you are alone in your way of enlightenment . . .”
He gives him a scroll “. . . Find Ironno and asks where the safe houses are. I would ask him that is close to Stranding Island. I can’t explain any further. This won’t be good if the public knows. Please be careful, and don’t go too deep that you yourself will be impossible to face it ever again”
Spokesman returns to act lively once more, when Tabitha starts to worry. Her self-made quests had become the nightmare she had thought of.
They found Ironno back inside the ruins. Somewhere that Haw is with Maser in the different area. A scroll was shown in hand to Ironno, and immediately understood what it meant. Tabitha feels what Raker Mawn are doing, just like back in the guild tower. There are exceptional people who are only doing errands without saying a word. Just like this one, she needs to face what truly happens to her place and the people she felt unnerving. This must be the same actions she had remembered. Without a saying a word, only with their bind Archivist, he explained it to her.
“It feels like back in the tower, right?”
“Yeah, still. Why so secretive about it?”
“Because we are relying more powerful sources. Be ready, Tabitha. We have to see how dangerous Fuku City really is”
Tabitha casts her spell and teleported near the ferry. There is a safehouse hiding where the spirit toys are hiding. The way it acted are goblin spirits, they face the two people as they move away. Showing the entrance that won’t fit any normal people to get it in. There are soft laughs coming from the spirits, as the two approached the entrance. Archivist sweeps the floor with his feet, revealing actual entrance of the safehouse. They disappeared, and leaving the spirits confused of their rushed actions.
The safehouse is a bit different whereas the interior is properly furbished within the Enders design. Honestly, she didn’t know that this is an actual hidden room for the Enders’ Guilds. Archivist couldn’t think about this and away from Stranding Island. He wants to know what purpose does their embassy really means in the island, where this safehouse portrayed the Lord’s meeting rooms. The runes inside of this room are identical to be magic stones. It is obvious that it has archscience craftsmanship. Making it more sense for him why Haw wasn’t involved, because this project where only assigned guild members are allowed to know.
The table rises before them, Archivist introduces it to her. “This is going to be the beginning of your own enlightenment, Tabitha. Once we place that scroll here, you will be exposed the secrets of Enders Bridge as well. It will be difficult for you, but it will be too early for you to witness the worse outcome to the people in this city. I can’t say enough after I observe your fair city. I have nothing to observe to the private life of theirs”
“It’s fine Archivist. I think I am getting to what Elrond tell me about. The stopping of the Foundation and the people straying away the lives they don’t want to face again. I also don’t want to admit that we are not perfect”
The table raises a floating slab, mentioning about their people. The first revelation she had to see. It says “Citizens of Isekai City, comparable to known men and women of the forgotten. Blood and soul are identical, but strangely different when it comes to physical features. It is proven that these people are able to ignore the influence. Powerful enough to their equal? No, they have no common mindset. Separately individuals, can not replicate the past people. Their souls are truly descended than reincarnated. Those humans, how is it possible they came here? Or maybe the demons were once lived their world”
The symbol who wrote it to the slab is one of the Enders Guild. Hard to describe it by its design as neither of them recognized what guild is it. The slab faded the writings as another message comes forth. It is their own guild, Raker Mawn. It says,
“To the last remnants who still carries the old memento of the past. The Isekai City had the same old models, but time differs from our world to theirs. Then there is no assurance if the past loved ones recognized the people here. Whom were entered this world, it was hundreds for us while they are in decades . . . Strange?”
Tabitha already knows about it, even the description shows only clues of their own people and theirs. There is someone out there in Enders Bridge who has the same powers as her, but those people probably mastered it. Archivist puts down the slabs as all of them commented about the city.
“Let’s not dwell on the guilds’ matter. This must be old news when your city came here”
“You’re right, if something like this for them to wonder. Why didn’t they ask me back then?”
“There is one though, the old descendants didn’t show themselves to your people”
“Yeah, is there a guild who were those people you talk about?”
“The slabs only mention by the words of the guild’s higher ups. Probably they are guild masters or mistresses talk about it. I am not here going to stay longer to an old message or summary that was documented for future reminders”
Archivist places the scroll on the table, and the scroll used and the ink spread out as the ink vaporized leaving dark steam to the air. The magic is form and the table changes into a map, where the emblems, sigils, and symbols are portrayed to a given location. Raker Mawn for example is in the undergrown.
The rest shows are in the forests, and few are at Enders Bridge. Tabitha thinks this through with Juela’s guidance. They must find the location of an anonymous marked map. This is where she needs to be careful. Anonymous locations mean something; hideouts, stashes, or traps. The safest bet is to where Dexter Guild is closest to the city. Juela has an idea to where is it. Archivist summarized it for her
“Well now, if what Juela said is true, then they should be hiding where the signals can be tapped into your city’s communication networks”
Archivist can’t, “If not, we could contact them again”
Tabitha remembers communication in Enders Bridge, there are other ways sending messages like magic comparable to devices. That was simple thinking of herself as she always forgot the limits of magic they could use. As she continues to think about it, then it must be easier to find them with their unlimited mana. The bind between her to Archivist and Kiege are limitless thanks to her magic potent. Making her starting to see why she always used simple magic more than the stronger ones. Yui is the one who knows how to manage spells. While Sanquin knows how to handle physique.
Her mind is being clouded with people she knows who are managing their life well with mana. To the eyes gazed to the right spot to see, her mind is wandered off and out of focus. Archivist snaps out of her with a sound of his fingers snapping. Implied it with magic, the soundwave vibrates anything that it touches. She feels like she was shaken. The map opens up the location of the anonymous spots. There are some in Stranding Island, north outskirt of the city, the west side to Enders Bridge has one, and finally something brushes off inside the city. The last one barely where it is as it is stamp over the icon.
“This must be the place. The map shows that is closer to the stadium and all while away from the people’s watch”
“That would be so. The rest of the area is too far away to do some research. The thing I wish I should know more”
“Wish for what?”
“It’s nothing, I was thinking about your horror movies”
Tabitha looks at him as if he is trying to scare her. She is not amused from the joke. His face hid well until the expression brightens up. Thinking expression with his eyes trying desperately to analyze it. She sighs and hope what he said won’t haunt her for going there.
Blockaded and not permissible to enter the ruins beyond the outskirt of the city. The two realized why they station there. The police secured it tightly as the wall of the bluish light contains large density of dust there. Tabitha checks her hands as it ready to be played. The police know that she is an actual citizen, so she won’t by pass the blockade. Archivist is not one of them, without a saying a word as their bind speaks for themselves. He proceeds to follow the plan. The police stop him
“Please show your papers to continue through here”
Archivist shows the emblem from Raker Mawn, then they use a detector to search for any electronic devices. After it is done, they give him some papers to fill up and said,
“Instructed by the Dexter Guild, we must follow the regulation of documentation to any Enders who wished to exit beside using the train”
Archivist’s mask shows the expression of disappointed. The police laugh how silly he wears a mask like that. One of them slips a joke to ease their boredom
“Is there something wrong? I can recommend you other emojis to make you feel relatable”
They laugh as he too laughed as well.
That laughter wasn’t meant for the joke, it is the process of allowing him through is going to be annoying. Dexter Guild coincidentally make this process in order to delay what they are hiding over there. It was one of the old accusations he remembered back from the predecessor of their Archscientist. Every mistake is being adapted to hide further and acting with excuses when they were discovered. Foolishly believe they will not be found out their true hidden goals.
Tabitha reads his mind to the point of blatant inconvenience brewing. She left to him to his own, as she finds a place for her to relax. As the time goes on by the second, Archivist shows her the glimpse how he was doing. The sounds of her choking as she turns around and see it was nothing. Again, she takes a leave. The bind shows her more of those flashes of his hand coming again. The flashes were too suddenly distracting for her not to ignore. Archivist is mentally groaning to the point he used his magic to bend the ink to write on the paper works.
Tabitha’s mind was being deluded as if he is making a dish. To where she goes start to tumble and sits on the random sidewalk as he sends his own imagination.
“What are you doing?”
“Keeping off my head from the mundane papers”
“You’re imagining to cook the papers”
“You try to bend the ink than instantly cast it on the paper”
“Why can’t you?”
“This is a Dexter Guild fill out paper. It can nullify the ink to fade away if it was filled under five minutes”
“You’ve got to be kidding me”
“Dare to listen to them?”
The voice link to the police as they saw something impossible. “My words, the man actually filling up the paper works”
“I’ve seen goblins banging the papers with their spirits, but faded away, I didn’t notice this man keeps the ink flowing. I am telling you, it is definitely from the paper’s quality”
“Laugh* I couldn’t laugh that hard when I have to tell the goblins to write it correctly. This guy gets it done”
After five minutes of filling up, the papers are done. “This man had evaded the cursed paper works”
“Should we tell him who made those papers”
“It doesn’t matter, he looks really down at first but didn’t complain. Better than the goblins, I think”
Tabitha was in disbelief and can’t believe how Dexter Guild would do this. All this trouble to give them extra time, if they are this secretive to form a base inside the outskirt of the city. Why not . . . Then she thought about it seriously. She stops and keeps it silent.
“Remember what Juela said; Something that others don’t want to know, that goes with Fuku City”
Archivist made it through as he goes where she could get to use her cards. After multiple draws, she is able to pick out her card. ‘Creeps Warp’ she blurted out from her mouth as the instruction say it will be teleported to her allies’ location. Yeah, that name.
Archivist is being ray down by a pillar of light and two magic circles are levitating up and down onto him. As it continues to channel, Tabitha appeared like a beam of light concentrating close to him. They are reunited and the place they have searching for is here. A huge cargo almost buried, Archivist didn’t hesitate but to open it with his strong hands at the small gap of the opened door. A loud sound as he grips the handle then suddenly opens it with great noisy force. The barrier appeared slightly to negate the noise going out to the surface. They enter the cargo and sees a tunnel going deeper.
The hallway shows technical equipment layered to every step they entered. Scanners, senser plates, laser wires, and cameras are seen on their path. There is a massive door blocking their path. The handle door is so massive, and probably opened it with sheer strength. Tabitha turns to him and said,
“Let me find a card to help you open the door”
“There is no need to. Just show them your device”
“What? Ok . . . !!!”
The massive door quietly opens as it smoothly moves where the scanners detect it. Tabitha was shocked,
“The dumbest thing to open it manually will cause an echo chamber of screeching metal. Even if your deaf, the vibration will crush us here”
Tabitha looks up and see piles of metal junk somehow hold its own, if the vibration did something to make it fall, she gulps down her throat to see these scraps had runes. The sighs in relief as both of them made it in. This hideout belongs to the Dexter Guild, there is showing on screen about an announcement
“Private matters are on hold, the head archscientist had commanded to cease to further on the mission”
Juela was right, there is no way a well-prepared guild like this never took the opportunity to go to waste.
Tabitha sees one of the Dexter guild members, who is not wearing the same uniform as them. She looks at them to see they are not from their group. The moment of silent starts to rile her up as she quietly pressing the button, Archivist speaks out
“Raker Mawn Guild, we request for validation to further the qualification for your service”
“For what qualification?”
“Private Matters”
“. . . I see, then proceed to follow protocol and remember the rules. Mentioning it here will be disqualified . . .”