"I am sorry, but currently, you cannot access your astral shift." My heart froze as the implications began to dawn on me.

I can't transform? What does that mean? Am I not a magical girl, after all?

"What? I can't access my astral shift? Why? Does that mean I can't transform?" Transformation is essential to a magical girl. Without it, they are no different than any ordinary high school or middle school student.

Furthermore, they would lose the magical shield that transformation provides. It would be perilous to confront Anathema under such conditions. Without the ability to vanquish Anathema, they can't earn points, essentially stripping them of their role as magical girls.

"Well… explaining the circumstances behind your inability to access your astral shifts would require a lengthy discussion… it's a situation beyond our control. It would be best to focus on reaching that shelter for now."

"No! I need to know why I can't access my astral shift. It's crucial! Without it, I might as well not be a magical girl at all." My plea was fervent, marked by a panic I hadn't felt for a long time. It was the first time I had ever demanded something so adamantly, nearly on the verge of tears.

How could they? First, they promised to make me a magical girl, but then I couldn't transform! Is this some kind of a joke?

Felicia paused again, motionless as before. Then, as her tail began to sway once more, she finally responded.

"Well… do you recall the message that was displayed to you earlier?" I strained to remember the message. It involved my credentials being upgraded, my mana resonance, my soul gem, and something about an astral shift.

"Yes. It said my astral shift was locked. Something about a black protocol?"

"It's called Blacklight Protocol. It was a system the United Nations of Humanity Council requested Zenith to implement as a result of a plenary session five years ago," Felicia explained. My heart calmed down upon hearing this. It wasn't some system error or an incompatibility with the soul gem. If it was humans who locked it, then it could be unlocked. The people at the UNH always seem to cause trouble. Even my father and the main family have had their disputes with them. However, since they control the Guardian Command, we can't afford to oppose them too openly.

"So, how do we unlock the Blacklight Protocol? Do we need to go to the Guardian Command? It's three or four kilometers away, at the city hall."

"No. We need to consult a Magical Girl or Magical Guardian. Explain what Blacklight Protocol is, and then she can unlock it."

"Oh. I was almost certain the UNH would demand special privileges to unlock the astral shift for MGs," I mused.

"They did. But we refused. Allowing them that power would give them control over all Magical Guardians, which we cannot permit. Remember the second clause of the MG contract."

"Yeah. We can't become tyrants."

"Exactly. Contracting with the UNH is acceptable. In fact, most MGs have contracts with the UNH through the Guardian Command. However, it must be a choice made freely, not under duress."

"So, this is the first time I've heard about the Blacklight Protocol. I don't think Alice ever mentioned it before."

"Before explaining about Blacklight Protocol, are you familiar with origins?"

"What are they?"

"Origins represent the theme of a Magical Girl. You know that—" Felicia suddenly halted as we both turned our attention to the noises coming from outside. Fear and despair began to well up within me once more as I realized the significance of those sounds.

"Be silent," a voice resonated directly in my mind. "It could be a survivor or an Anathema. We don't need to speak aloud; we can communicate telepathically since my soul gem was implanted in your brain during the magical contract. I'll scout outside, but I'll need to borrow your mana to manifest myself. Will you let me?"

The revelation about the soul gem being planted in my brain caught me off guard, but I brushed it aside. After all, in Eden, it wasn't uncommon for people to have transplants in their heads, often because they found carrying a phone too cumbersome. I rubbed my head, searching for any sign of an incision, but found my skin smooth, unmarred by any scar. Magitech, huh?

"Sure. How do I do it?" I pushed aside my fleeting anxiety about Felicia's soul gem and inquired about the manifestation process.

"Just allow the mana to flow from your head to me," she instructed. I nodded, and felt the mana move from my being to hers. I didn't notice any visible change in Felicia, but she assured me she was now ready to scout. I was about to open the door for her, but she simply approached it and, to my surprise, phased through it like an ethereal ghost.

She returned almost instantly, moving through the door as if it were mere air. Witnessing her phase through solid objects so effortlessly was surreal. It's no wonder she seemed to know everything about me.

"There are two Anathema nearby, rummaging through a house. They'll reach us in minutes. If my memory archive is accurate, they're called Fomorian Hounds—a dog-like Anathema with a long, serrated tail resembling a harpoon head and suction teeth akin to those of lampreys. Additionally, they possess dagger-like claws on their four legs. They're considered low-level Anathema, perfect for beginners. However, since you're without your astral shift, facing them could be dangerous. We should purchase weapons now, as a confrontation is inevitable." I grimaced at the term 'low-level Anathema.' The description matched the hounds frequently encountered in our city, creatures that had nearly overpowered our soldiers yesterday and required almost two magazines of regular bullets to subdue.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"So, what should we buy?" I inquired.

"We have a selection of weapons available. Given your experience with bows, I recommend either the short bow Vault [common] or the longbow Vault [common]."

"Hmm… I'm not confident in hitting a moving target with a bow. Those hounds move quite fast."

"Should we consider a handgun, then? I can unlock a kinetic handgun Vault [common]. Each option costs 100 points."

"Do you have a Naginata or poleaxe? I'm experienced with those."

"Um… to unlock a Naginata, you'd need to unlock both the Spear Vault [common] and the Sword Vault [common]. For a poleaxe or halberd, it's the Spear Vault [common] and the Axe Vault [common]." I frowned at Zenith's marketing strategy.

"What's the price for the cheapest spear?"

"A Javelin with a Silverbane tip and plastic shaft costs 2 points per spear. This would be advisable for indoor combat. Alternatively, you could opt for a longer cross spear with a Silverbane tip, priced at 5 points. However, these weapons are all unattuned and unaligned, meaning they can't be enchanted and won't benefit from your stats."

"Okay. I'll take two javelins and a cross spear," I said. The terms 'unattuned' and 'unaligned' were unfamiliar to me, but that clarification could wait. The sound of the hounds' footsteps drew nearer.

[Spear Vault (Common) Unlocked!]

[-100 Points]

[Purchased: Javelin x2]

[-4 Points]

[Purchased: Cross spear!]

[-5 Points]

[Remaining Points: 151 (260 -100-9)]

"Alright! Two javelins and a cross spear coming up, nyaaa." Just as Felicia finished her speech, a black box containing the aforementioned spears arrived. It was delivered remarkably quickly. I eagerly opened the box and examined its contents. The javelins were lighter than I had anticipated, much lighter than the naginata I frequently used, while the cross spear felt similar in weight to the naginata and yari with which I regularly practiced. However, after making the purchase, I found myself wrestling with indecision. Should I wait for them to break through the door, or should I preemptively open the door and ambush them?

This hesitancy plagued me. The naginata and bow training I underwent was purely for sport; I never imagined I'd have to apply those skills in a real confrontation with humanity's greatest enemy, the Anathema. Ultimately, the decision was made for me as one of the monsters reached the bedroom door. With a swipe of its claw, it demolished the door. I reacted instinctively, thrusting my spear forward. The sensation of the spear piercing flesh was distinctly different from the resistance offered by practice dummies.

After a momentary struggle, the creature collapsed, motionless. Then, another Anathema, previously at a distance, charged towards me. Attempting to retrieve my spear proved futile; it was somehow lodged firmly in place. In a moment of desperation, I released the cross spear and seized a javelin. Rather than throwing it, I positioned its tip upwards, just in time to intercept its lunge. The javelin pierced the creature's mouth, exiting through its back. As it flailed in its death throes, its claw slashed through my blazer. The silence that followed its final shudder was a grim reminder of the ordeal's end. I wrestled to free myself from beneath its carcass, my clothing now stained with black ichor and a viscous, oily substance, ruining my expensive blazer, school shirt, skirt, tights, and hair.

[Defeated: Fomorian Hound Level 3]

[Reward: 10 Points]

[Defeated: Fomorian Hound Level 2]

[Reward: 10 Points]

[You have leveled up to level 2]

"Great job, nyaa. Sorry about the struggle. I should have recommended the Seraph Spear, an enchanted and aligned cross-shaped spear, and the Zeus Javelin, an enchanted and aligned spear javelin. But you asked for something inexpensive, and I couldn't make purchases without your authorization," Felicia apologized, noticing my ordeal and the ruined blazer. A sense of guilt washed over me as I realized I had been the one to question her choices. I shouldn't have been frugal, especially now that I don't have access to Astral Shift. If I were to die, everything would be in vain.

"Sorry. Could you repeat the recommendations?"

"Yes. I recommended the Seraph Spear and Zeus Javelin—50 points for the Seraph Spear and thirty points for the javelin. Both are enchanted with a sharpness enchantment, allowing them to slice through low-level Anathema as easily as a hot knife through butter. They're also aligned with strength stats, meaning the weapons grow stronger with each point in your strength."

"I see." I wasn't entirely sure what she meant by 'aligned' or 'enchanted.' How effective is the sharpness enchantment? What exactly are strength stats? Nevertheless, I decided to follow her advice. I chose to trust her for the time being. "Then, one of each spear, please."

"Yes, alright. Ah, before we proceed, I suggest we move to a different house or room. There might be more Anathema nearby. They'll likely search this house with greater forces if they detect that their comrades haven't returned, nyaa." The boxes arrived just as she finished speaking. The Seraph Spear was a beautifully crafted cross spear adorned with decorative wings. Thankfully, it was metallic grey with a silver blade rather than pink. The decorative wings were bladed at the edges, lending the weapon a cool aesthetic rather than a cute one.

[Purchased: Zeus Javelin!]

[-30 Points]

[Purchased: Seraph Spear]

[-50 Points]

[Remaining Points: 91 (151+20-80)]

"Alright. When you first purchase enchanted javelins, we include their quivers as a bonus. Each quiver can hold up to five javelins or other spears."

I nodded and pulled myself up. The pain reliever from the first aid kit worked better than anticipated. If the homeowner survived, I promised to repay them somehow. However, despite the effectiveness of the pain reliever, it wasn't Zenith magic. My left leg felt weak, and walking was challenging without using my spear for support. As I fastened the quiver belt, I caught my reflection in the mirror. The modern school blazer clashed with the fantasy-themed spear and javelins, making me look like a complete mess.

Wondering what to do with the inexpensive cross spear I had bought in a rush, I decided to place it in the javelin quiver on my back. Exiting the house through the backyard, I noticed several Anathema wandering and sniffing around the front. Their movements seemed coordinated: the bees and hounds acted as vanguards, while the gorillas and ghouls, with black scythes for arms, appeared to be the main force. I silently commended myself for heeding Felicia's advice.

Approaching my house, I debated whether to make a run for it but opted to follow Felicia's earlier suggestion and stopped three houses short. Our tutorial had been abruptly interrupted by those two hounds. Taking refuge on the second floor of the house, I rested and tended to my wounded calf. It was then that Felicia resumed our interrupted session.

"Alright. Our tutorial was cut short because of the Anathemas. Next, I need to explain the status screen to you."