The day of the expedition by the Fallow’s Technomancer’s Institute arrives. Disguised as Amelia, Emily went to the Guild with Sarah to meet her teammates for the day.

“Technomancer’s Institute?” Atsuko said with perks perked with curiosity.

“Looks like,” Heathcliff said. “That is the official name at least.”

“Seems like they would make good allies,” Elizabeth said.

“Or dangerous enemies,” Tim said. “We must be on our guard with them.”

“What exactly do they do again?” Rose asked.

“Well,” Elizabeth said. “As I mentioned before, they are said to be the foremost authorities on [Dungeon] research. They are primarily a guild of scientists, researchers, and [Artificers] that is to say those that use mechanical means to fight and support others. They mostly operate in Pacifica, but also have outreach in the rest of [Liberté].”

“That reminds me,” Richard said. “Sarah told me she and you had worked on the giant spider thing?”

“The [Construct]?” Elizabeth said. “We did. Minerva is accessing the modifications we’ve made right now.”

Saizo arrives. “We’ve updated the poison traps Lady Atsuko.”

“Glad to hear it,” Atsuko said. The nekomata turned to the red-clad knight. “You wanted Tatzulwurm venom, right?”

“Oui,” Heathcliff said. He then turned to her retainer. “I heard that you wanted to help out for today?”

“That’s right,” the ninja asked. “We figured it an opportune moment to practice our combat. Suzume and Richard already prepared the uniforms.”

“We’ll be sure to give them a show too!” Rose said.

“What will everyone else be doing today?” Atsuko said.

“Right now,” Heathcliff said. “Esteban and Julia are planning on sightseeing near Rosenkreuz. Carla and Charlotte are still looking into freeing the kids from Emily and as for me? I have to meet with Pauline later and make some groceries.

“We do have a habit of burning the food supply, lately,” Tim said.

“We’ve plenty to do today it seems,” Atsuko said.

Everyone begins preparing for their day and the Black Box’s upcoming guests.

✦✦✦

A while later. “Amelia” and her party have prevailed over the Tarantula construct. They had just received a suit of armor, a longsword and a clerical staff. The elf among they had claimed the latter weapon. Sarah offered to keep a hold of the rest of the loot for now.

After the party leaves the room. The core saucer of the mechanical spiders opens. Minerva craws out as Elizabeth flutters into the room.

“How was piloting the [Construct]?” the fairy asked.

“It’s…” Minerva clearly wasn’t used to piloting a machine. “It’s going to take a while to acclimate to. The psionic runes in particular were troublesome.”

“I see,” Elizabeth said. “And the reinforcements?”

“The volunteers fought valiantly, although…” Minerva turned toward Nina, who was among them. “Did we make it clear that you weren’t to meet our guests today, Nina.”

The spiderling meekly twiddled her fingers meekly. “Sorry, Mommy.”

Minerva approached her daughter. “I understand you are eager to meet them, but you need to understand that you could’ve risked yourself, and maybe Sarah and Emily as well. Please, try to be careful next time, dear.”

“Okay!” Nina said.

✦✦✦

Later, Clara and Charlotte are tending to the monsters in their care. The Tatzelwurms, the chimera, and the Cordyceps deer.

The younger Charlotte makes sure the zombified ibex doesn’t munch on her petals, as she tries to check its flesh for abnormalities. She noticed several metallic patches on the deer’s hide.

“Mommy?” Charlotte called out. Clara walked to her daughter and the deer. Charlotte gestured to the metallic flesh.

“Oh my,” Carla said.

While the two were looking over the deer, “Amelia” and her party were venturing through the dungeon. The disguised Emily glanced over in their direction before moving forward.

Elizabeth arrived, with Flowena and Ulric in tow. “Is something the matter?”

“I think the mutations are finally happening,” Clara said.

Elizabeth accessed the Corcyceps Deer and saw the metal patch. “Hmm, it has been here a while,” she said.

“Do you know what the effects are?” Charlotte said. “I heard that the denizens of a Dungeon take on traits of the dungeon itself.”

“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said. “Emily’s resources and aesthetics are rare even for [Divine Dungeons] and the [Mutations] are influenced by several variables. With what is known, it is possible that the inhabitants would be closer to what the [Cells] are like. But even that differs.”

“How so?” The blue-haired sprite asked.

“Well,” Elizabeth said. “Did the [Mirage Feywood] ever have anyone stay there?”

“Lots,” the pink-haired sprite said. “Many of them lost souls that had remained had developed features like us. They came to be more jovial as well. Until…” Flowena recalled the attack on the Feywood from Baron Roberts and Carnigie.

Ulrich shot a look at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth realized that she had reminded the sprites of a traumatic event. “Um, sorry about that. My point is that the longer organisms remained in the [Dungeons] the more they changed to reflect it. Be they [Cell], [Sentinel] or even [Dungeon Master].”

“So you’re saying we could be like Emily one day?” Charlotte asked.

“To an extent,” Elizabeth said. “Those with will would not completely change, though they will notice biological and subtle shifts. I think several groups and guilds were looking specifically into how the mutations affect them and the subtle changes and subspecies in these communities.”

Flowena had a question. “What does that mean for those like us?”

“There will likely be some changes, but since you were already altered by lingering in a Dungeon, even if you were born with those changes, they will take precedence. Though successive generations will likely develop more pronounced changes. It is [Evolution] to simplify, though with a slight difference. [Mutations] will pop up more frequently in youth even if they were born outside the [Dungeon]”

Carla looked at the deer. “We’ll need to be careful with this one. We don’t know how the mutation will affect the parasite that animates that corpse.” The deer shot a look of surprise at the alraune tamer.

“We’re lucky that the nanomachines in Emily kept it at bay so far, but we should still try to take precautions.”

Charlotte searched her body for metallic patches, but she had yet to find them.

Elizabeth left the alraunes alone. She has to meet with the Coloratura to remind them to prepare for the party.

✦✦✦

Later, the Coloraturas were recently unfrozen following their encounter with “Amelia” and the Fallow party. Raine thawed the fastest owing to her increased body heat.

“By H-halcyon,” Rose shuddered. “D-did they h-h-have to be so c-c-c-cold with the magic?”

Lily sneezed after being freed from the ice. Hydrangea helped her up.

“I hoped you gave them the ‘show’ you wanted to give, Rose,” Streltizia said.”

Clover took out her fan. “Is there any reason why Elizabeth didn’t want us using these?” she asked.

“She said that she didn’t want to risk hurting Emily and Sarah,” Anemone said. “Out of us, all, Streltizia was the most experienced with hers.”

The minotauride displayed her labrys. “Heh, you guys still have a long way to go?”

“Wasn’t it your idea to get us weapons, Stre?” Azalea said. “Maybe it’s a sharp idea to teach us how to use them?”

The horned girl looked at the clionid. “I think experience is the best teacher here. At least in my case.”

Lily perked up a little. “Those Fallow guys were tough! Do you think they were Sentinels as well?”

“Hardly,” Raine said. “The elf at least frequented Rozenkreuz a lot. Seemed rather timid.”

“I think I’ve seen that swordsman at the guildhall before too,” Rose said.

Elizabeth arrived at the arena to help dry off the Coloraturas. They then followed the family to hidden spectator seats where they could watch Tim’s fight with the Fallow party.

✦✦✦

A while later, after Maurice and his party left the Black Box. Tim meditates on his recent fight with the Fallow party. Unlike his previous battles, this one was rather close. He had given it his all…

..but Emily still defeated him.

He noticed a peculiar feeling inside of him. He felt… proud. He felt proud of Emily’s progress. Yet a part of him wonders if there were still any missteps. His calm was broken by him hearing battle cries nearby. He stood up from his meditative stance, a little irritated, and walked to the source of the sound.

He saw Elizabeth, practicing by using her wand as a lance. Time let a wry chuckle at the fairy. “You’re a little too loud you know that?’

The pink-haired guide was started by Tim’s presence. “Did I disturb you?” she said with a sheepishness that reminded him of Emily.

“Quite,” Tim said. “Why are you practicing? Master Wu had alread—”

“That’s why I’m practicing,” Elizabeth said. “Jingyu had uploaded the data, yes, but that is only theory. If I am to help you and Emily with reviving the Golden Spear, I also need to know how theory plays out in practice.”

“Ah,” Tim said. “Not an adherent of ‘those that can’t do, teach’, huh? Do you mind if I observe your practice then, maybe I can help.”

Elizabeth remembered Tim’s skill in the art. “Wasn’t your training incomplete?”

“In the sense that it was interrupted, yes,” Tim said. “But I still know enough about its execution to be of assistance if you’d like.”

Elizabeth had nothing to lose, so she agreed to let Tim observe her movements. She started with a single horse stance, followed by an elbow bump and then a thrust with both palms. She used her staff as a polearm to guide her moments.

“Not bad,” Tim said. “Your form is good, but your motions are slow.”

“Really?” Elizabeth said.

“It is adequate for demonstrations, but in actual matches or an actual battle, anyone would see your attacks and counter them.”

“Right,” the fairy asked. “I’m certain reaction speed will improve with time.”

Tim nodded.

“Maybe a sparring partner can help?” Time politely asked. Elizabeth agreed to the match.

The two practice for an hour. Elizabeth used the data she obtained from Tim’s former teacher and observation of Tim’s own movements to mimic them. Her execution was still too sluggish to land a blow, and Tim countered her movements with ease. By the time the match was over, Elizabeth had managed to throw her punches and kicks a little faster than before.

“Thank you, Tim,” Elizabeth said. She then noticed that Emily should be back by now and went to the entrance to greet her.

✦✦✦

A new day dawned, and Emily finished recollecting her past. She noticed Heathcliff was writing in a journal. She was reminded of the older Heathcliff from her trial and grew curious.

“What are you writing?” Emily’s voice echoed to the knight.

“Ah, mornin’ cher,” Heathcliff said. “Decided to get our adventures down in print.”

Emily was recently aware that the red-headed man learned about what she had encountered during her trial, including his elder counterpart.

“Before you ask, this wasn’t purely because of that trial, Emily,” Heathcliff said. “I think it wise to help keep a record of things. Time’s always a’changing, you know.”

“Huh?” Emily asked curiously.

Heathcliff chuckles. “If my time as a paladin of ol’ Charlie taught me anything, it’s that everything is always in flux. One day things seem peaceful, the next everyone is at the other’s throats. The more things seem to stay the same, the more everything changes, and I smell a great change coming in the future.”

“You do?” Emily asked.

“Call it a hunch,” Heathcliff said. “I’m a knight, not a prophet, but experience has always said to expect the unexpected.”

Emily could see why Heathcliff would think that way. Alongside herself, he is in charge of her maintenance as a Dungeon. And she knew he had many years under his belt as an adventurer and a knight.

“Come to think of it, so you have anything to say, Emily?” Heathcliff said. “You seemed nostalgic lately.”

Emily is startled by the request. She did have a few words for posterity. She told Heathcliff about several things about herself and their friends. Like Rose’s sweet tooth, Atsuko and her retainer Noboru’s philosophical discussions and Nina’s ever-present attempts to practice becoming an adventurer. She also told him that she found out Elizabeth is trying to practice Bajiquan from Tim recently.

“Heh, so that’s why she asked me about borrowing a spear,” Heathcliff said.

“There are still so many threads,” Emily said. “Not that long ago that we knew that Sarah and Richard had a legendary figure in their ancestry.”

“There is also the whole ‘Network’ thing you got hung up on since you visited your swords,” Heathcliff said.

“And the restoration of the Golden Spear,” Tim said as he walked in. “Itself a long and arduous journey in part because we need to find the other three relics.”

“Yeah,” Heathcliff said. “Esteban offered to look into any leads at Noir.”

“Good morning Tim!” Emily’s voice echoed to the lad. “How is Lizzie’s practice?”

“Things are going well…ish. At the very lease, she can fight future students when needed.”

“We’re spinning a lot of plates it seems,” Heathcliff said.

“How are the Coloraturas?” Emily asked. “Are their mana leastlevels still okay?”

“Surprisingly, yes,” Heathcliff said. “Despite some close calls, they seemed stable. Carla, Minerva, and their kids are also doing alright so far.”

Emily realized she was supposed to run some errands in Rosenkreuz today. She hostile manefested an avatara.

“Hold your horses, cher,” Heathcliff said. “I still gots to make some breakfast first. Little Stella just got up. We got enough time to make the groceries.” The knight left the room to begin his usual culinary duties. Emily and Tim were left alone in an awkward silence.

“A little excited about today, huh,” Tim asked.

Emily blushed from embarrassment. “Y-yeah.”

“Maybe we can go somewhere after your errands are finished?” Tim said. “Any future visits are unlikely to happen until tomorrow anyway.”

Emily has noticed that adventures rarely go out on a specific day of the week. She learned from Chiron that it is because the scriptures told of the necessity of a day of respite and observance.

“Are you…sure about that, Timmy?” Emily bashfully said. “I don’t know how long those errands might take.”

“I can come with you,” Tim said. “You can get a lot more done with an extra set of hands.”

“You will?” Emily said. “Um, I mean thanks.”

The pair left the room and headed to the dining area for breakfast.

✦✦✦

Later, Emily, Heathcliff, and Tim arrived in Rosenkreuz again. Their first stop was the guildhall. Emily and Tim looked at the familiar rustic village and paved roads with a mix of comfort and uncertainty. It was a few days ago that they had traveled to a version of it turned to ashed and cinders. The sight of the town as it currently is, felt a little alien to them.

The trio entered the guildhall and approached Benoit and Pauline.

“Howdy, guys!” Benoit greeted.

“Hey, Benny!” Heathcliff said with a wide smile.

Pauline noticed Emily’s disturbed face. “Something wrong, dear?” the blue-haired elf said. “You looked like you saw a ghost.

“It’s nothing, just lost in thought is all,” Emily said. “Did the Fallow party return here by any chance?”

“Actually,” Pauline said. “Maurice returned to the Institute, taking Joe with him. Going to miss him, to be honest. He was a dab hand with his sword.”

“What about the other one?” Tim asked. “The elf girl?”

“Felicity?” Pauline said. “She said he had to return to her community in nearby Birchwood. Maurice had offered her a permanent position on his party, but she refused. He also asked me if Sarah and ‘Amelia’ here wanted to join as well.”

“Huh?” Emily said with surprise.

Pauline laughed. “Don’t worry, I let him know neither of you was ready to move out just yet.”

Emily let out a sigh of relief. She then glanced at Tim and blushed momentarily.

Heathcliff looked at Benoit. “You saw it too?” he whispered.

“Yeah,” Benoit whispered back. “How long before they find out?”

“Give it a few years,” Heathcliff said. “Let the chers find out on their own.” He said with a wry chuckle.

Pauline saw an adventurer angrily storm the guildhall. He brandished a firearm as he rowdily demanded to see the guild’s leader. Several other adventures used the tables to protect themselves and civilians from the belligerent shots. Pauline sighed as she invoked Halcyon to encase the shooter in a bubble.

“Now tell me, dear,” Pauline said in a stern voice. “Why reason do you have to terrorize the people here?”

The man, blinded in rage tried to shoot at the elf, but she took out a wooden wand and retaliated with a slight motion, the firearm vanished from the man’s arm and reappeared in her arms. Pauline glared at the intruder. “And why cause do you have to tuning a gun on a Guildmaster?”

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The man angrily accused the Rosenkreuz guild of the disappearance of the Whisperwind Valley. A Dungeon that Benoit explained as supplying a specific type of enchanted wood to the nearby village. Pauline let out a sympathetic sigh before requesting the nearby adventures to take him to a cell to be tried in court for attempted murder.

“Another one bites the dust, huh?” Heathcliff said.

“And another one thinking the best way to redress it is to harm others.” Pauline rubbed her forehead. “Sorry, you had to see that.”

Emily had forgotten about the vanishing Dungeons. “Why would they be angry at the Guild?”

“I assume you knew of Rouge Dungeons from your first trip to Noir?” Pauline asked.

Emily nodded.

“Well, while several of them are indeed harmful to nearby settlements. Others were more peaceful in nature. They preferred not to align themselves with a guild for various reasons. This meant that there were fewer barriers to people angling for their Cores than there would be under normal circumstances. That man likely thought we had slain the Dungeon and absconded with their Core.”

“Whisperwind Valley huh? That is close to Cerberus if I recall. Maybe that was one of the Dungeons the Engines decided to ‘visit’ on the way to us,” Heathcliff mused.

“It could also be related to the Syndicate and whatever Project Stronghold is,” Tim said.

“Aren’t they supposed to be in Noir? “Emily asked.

“Their head honchos are,” Heathcliff said. “But they have their tendrils all over Liberté, remember? Even Gemini, one of the Hollyland studios, is said to be a front for these guys.”

Emily was reminded of the death Julia saw at Chiron’s chapel.

The trio eventually finished their business at the Guildhall. Heathcliff decided to bring Emily and Tim to the theater on the way back.

✦✦✦

Emily, Tim, and Heathcliff had arrived at the theater. They noticed Pearl in her “Elisa” disguised as well as Scarlett among the patrons. They also saw Jebidissa and Delia talk with Minerva, with Nina and Lily in tow. The centaur child among them noticed Emily’s group and waved to her.

“I’m going to go make sure there ain’t any trouble here,” Heathcliff said. He gave Tim some silvers. “You kids have fun now.”

Emily and Tim were confused. But Heathcliff already left them before she could respond.

Tim counted the coins.

“Why did he leave us alone?” Emily said in confusion.

Tim looked at the coinage. “Doesn’t seem like he’ll be back for a few hours. There’s enough here for two tickets and snacks. Interested in a movie?”

Emily was flustered. “Huh, of course! But—”

“No buts,” Tim said with a smirk. “The counter’s over there.”

The two approved an empty stall. They saw a porcine man looking over here. “Howdy fellers, came to see a show?”

“Two students,” Tim said as he displayed the silvers. The pig-eared man looked at the coins and gave him a list of the currently showing films by genre.

Emily is amazed at the variety of titles. Romantic Comedies, Adventure Stories, Horror, Pulp, and Crime Drama, among others. She and Tim looked over the various titles. One that caught Tim’s eye was an installment in a series of films about pirates and sailors. Emily eyed La Libertad, among other “Fairy Princess” tales.

Soon the avatara came across one she thought they’d both enjoy. “How about that one?” she pointed to a specific title.

“Britomartis,” Tim asked.

Emily nodded. “I heard from Anemone that it was about a romance between a knightly princess and her quest to find her long-lost love.”

“I’ll guess it’s worth a shot at least,” Tim said.

The two returned to the counter and requested the earliest showing for Britomartis.

“Theater 33,” the porcine ticket man said. “Next’s showing is in ten.”

“Thank you!” Emily said. She and Tim walked to the concessions stand of the theater and get their popcorn and sods before moving to the 33rd theater.

✦✦✦

“Oh Artigall, in the name of the Passionate, I will find you.”

Emily and Tim saw a winged and armored woman prepare to leave her place with a winged steed. If not for the iridescent wings on the actress, the character of Britomartis could’ve been mistaken for a Valkyrie. Tim noticed the depiction as a lingering effect of the cultural influence Sigurtein and its neighbors had on Albionian folklore.

They later witness a scene of Britomartis fighting a hydra in what seems to be a Natural Dungeon. Emily wondered about the prominence of Dungeons in film, both on and off the screen. Emily then moved her hand closer to Tim’s, but retracted in embarrassment.

“Radigund! You vile woman! I swear that I will free my fellow knights from your thrall!”

The two saw the beginning of the climax, where the heroine comes face to face with a controlling hag in a blackened spire. The villainess had enthralled many of her allies and several other knights including the love interest Artigall.

Emily is impressed by Britomaris’ valor in the face of such overwhelming odds. She identified with the fairy knight throughout the course of the film. Tim likely saw some comparison to Emily when Briotmartis is not in combat. Often in the scenes where the eponymous heroine awkwardly tries to communicate with strangers and flashbacks to when she first saw Artigall.

Despite the bravery of the fairy knight, the film began depicting her being nearly defeated by Radigund. The hag used the opportunity to gloat over her assumed victory as she had the brainwashed Artigall approach the fallen Britomartis.

The fairy tried to appeal to her love interest while parrying his strikes. Only succeeding by a sudden plot twist. The amulet that the knightly fairy carried on her all this time was enchanted to act in the name of true love and had broken the spell. The protagonist and love interest then defeated the villain together. Tim is a little jarred by the amulet’s sudden importation.

“And so Britomartis and Artigall lived happily ever after.” The narrator said as the film reached its final scene, depicting a wedding between the fairy and human. Emily noticed that Tim’s eyes had shared several tears during the scene and offered him a napkin.

The two left the 33rd theater and sat at a table at the concession stand.

“The ending was too sappy for my taste,” Tim lied.

Emily chuckled. “Didn’t stop you from sobbing,” she cheekily said.

“It was the dust,” Tim said.

“Still, you’d think they could’ve mentioned the enchanted amulet sooner,” Emily said.

“There was that offhand mention about how it was blessed by the Queene of Amorette and that she learned sacred arts from Hausos, the Passionate.”

“Come to think of it, “Emily said. “I noticed how many of these films seem to invoke the Administrators often.”

“How was the film, chers?”

Heathcliff had arrived, as well as Minerva, Nina, and Lily.

“Tim loved it, clearly,” Emily said.

Tim blushed with embarrassment. “It was alright.”

“You just watched Britomartis?” Lily asked with glee.

“Yeah,” Emily answered. “How did you know?”

“They saw you enter the theater,” Minerva said before pointing to the 33rd, besides its entrance was a sign that said “NOW PLAYING” with the film’s poster beneath it.

“That fairy was so cool, wasn’t she?” Nina said in admiration.

Tim and Emily talked about the film with the younger spiderling and centaur while Heathcliff and Minerva looked at several film titles.

“Are you certain it was wise to leave them alone like that?” Minerva asked in a whisper.

“Sometimes you gotta give them a li’l nudge,” Heathcliff whispered back.

The six left the theater and embarked back to the Black Box.

✦✦✦

Later, The Coloraturas are busy helping Azalea rehearse her routine. “And so, the dwarf had learn the secret of the Nauctflugel,” the clionid said.

“What was the secret?” Lily asked with eager curiosity.

“It’s flugels… at nauct!”

There was silence for three minutes.

“Um, I get it, but,” Anemone said. “I’m not sure how many of us knows enough Sigurteinian to understand the joke.”

“Aw,” Azalea said.

“We’re kinda on the right track, at least,” Rose said.

Azalea tries another story. “…They found the punchline. It punches limes.”

Lily and Clover chuckled a little bit.

“That is…a pun all right,” Streltizia said.

“It’s a bit too on the nose,” Raine added.

Azalea cleared her throat and tried a third idea. “…and she found out what the lightway is.”

“What's lightway?” Rose asked.

“Balloons of course,” Azalea said.

It dawned on rose that the punchline was a play on “lightweight”. “Oh…”

Raine and Hydrangea snickered a little. Azalea took that as a success.

Nina arrived with Charlotte and the Arion twins. “Hey guys, what’s up?” Nina asked

“The ceiling,” Azalea answered.

“We’re helping Azalea with her routine,” Hydrangea said.

Azalea tried some of her verbal pranks on the twins, the spidelring and the alraune. Evelyn later arrived and brought her latest painting into ask for opinions.

Anemone looked at the image and saw what seemed to be a cityscape on a mountain. “Is that supposed to be Gardenia?”

“What’s Gardenia?” Charlotte asked.

“Some faraway mountain city,” Strelitizia said.

“I’ve heard that a lot of people are moving into the city for some reason,” Euryale said.

“Though there seems to be no explanation why,” Stheno said.

Azalea tries one last tale. “Once upon a time there was a man from high Grab Rib Tee. He set out to find low Grab Rib Tee.”

“What’s Grab Rib Tee?” Charlotte asked.

“The thing Anemone is tutoring you to use of course,” Azelia said, to a few guffaws from several of the children, including Charlotte herself.

Lydia arrived to let them kids know that dinner is ready. The children prepare to eat for the night.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile, Atsuko talks with Saizo, Hoshikage and Noboru about further plans with the microdungeons.

“So, we have enough of a body of a proof of concept,” Atsuko said. “I’m wondering where to go from here.”

“Well, my lady,” Saizo said. “The Dungeon was recently visited by the Fallow Technomancer’s Institute,”

“I have though about that,” Atsuko said as she walked toward her bow. “But I’m not sure how to approach them here. This is potentially dangerous knowledge.”

“Aye,” Noboru said. The tanuki stroked his beard. “You have to considered this is sued to augment arms and armaments. The military applications are already apparent.”

“Especially given how things are back home in Yae,” Hoshikage said while applying some tanning lotion on her skin.

“Also,” Saizo said. “We need to figure out what to do with gear not in use, and to get weapons to test with.”

“I talked to Heathcliff about that,” Atsuko said. “He said that he can talk to the Guild about loaning discarded weapons to us. They think there might be a way to use it to restore them to some semblance of their former glory at least.”

“That’s going to be a breakthrough. Turning a broken cheap sword into a legendary weapon,” Hoshikage said.

“Even thought it would need several hundred platinums work of instruments to even attempt,” Atsuko said. Her ears were slumped over.

Saizo understood his employer well. He exchanged a knowing look with her. Atsuko slightly smiled.

Kasumi arrived and in a somewhat belligerent mood. “Does anyone know where Suzume went?” she asked. “Aika wants to talk to her.”

“I can see someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today,” Hoshikage playfully said to her orange-twintailed protege.

“She is with Esteban and Julia, wanted to learn from them a little,” the teal-haired nekomata said. “Is something wrong Kasumi?”

Kasumi humped impudently. Atsuko chucked.

“Kasumi,” Saizo said. “You should pay lady Atsuko more respect.”

“Why?” Kasumi said. “I’m a year older than her!”

“You know why,” Saizo said.

Atsuko grew exacerbated. “Here they go again,” she said. She could do without the constant reminders of that she left behind in Liberté. Noboru diffused the tension.

Hoshikage noted that Kasumi grew more tense ever since she saw Tim leave with Emily. “Someone got a little crush I see?”

“Do not!” Kasumi brattily answered. Hoshikage chucked a bit, as if she saw the denial as confirmation.

“Knock it off!” Kasumi said.

Saizo sighed. “Have you ever tried approaching him, Kasumi?”

Kasumi ignored Saizo and stormed off with some grumbles.

“Ah young love,” Noboru mused.

Atsuko and her closest retainers continued their discussion how to progress with the microdungeon project.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile in Noir, Esteban, Julia and Suzume stalked out a bar affiliated with the Syndicate.

“So,” the roniness asked. “You think they had lead on those weapons?”

“That’s what Mr Sorpano’s intelligence said,” The cyan-clad rouge said.

They saw a suspicious man leave the bar with a object wrapped in dark green linen. Julia motioned the trio to follow the man to his destination.

The suspicious man eventually stopped at an alleyway where a black suited man arrived. “So,” the other man said. “Did you find out anything?”

“Yes, sir,” he said as he presented the object to him. “This is a weapon obtained from a martial art dojo.” He unwrapped the weapon and reveal the gleaming bronze frame. “A replica, rather ornate for a training weapon.”

The other man took a look at the weapon. A singled curved blade. The saber had an elegant, yet brutish appearance. “This confirms the capo’s suspensions about an upstart on our turn. Where did you find this?”

“The dojo was established near Palimpsest Boulevard,” the courier said. “Around 56th and Henway.”

“I see,” the suited man said. “Guess they took advance of the Tombraider’s recent setbacks there.”

“I wonder why?” the courier said. “As far as is know the dojo was just another establishment to teach adventurers a combat style.”

“I see you were not aware about certain rumors?” The man said, aware that there are eyes on them.

“What rumors?”

“That need not concern you,” the black-suited man said. “You’re dismissed.” He turned around and left with the saber. The courier left the alleyway and passed by a hidden Esteban, Julia and Suzume.

“Well guess we have a lead for Tim,” Julia said.

Esteban dusted off his cyan hat. “56th and Henway, he said.”

Suzume sensed something was amiss. She drew her katana and slashed at a nearby trash bin. The wastbasket is split in half and revealed an assassin. The malfioso tried to attack the trio, but Esteban grabbed with and disarmed the man. The assailent, disarmed simple fled.

Esteban sighed and thanked Suzume.

“My pleasure,” Suzume said. “Lady Atsuko’s allies are my allies.”

The three headed into a different part of the city Noir, to find out more about this new dojo.

✦✦✦

Unseen, unheard, the Piper Pruflas lurks.

He watches little Emily hard at work.

The demon plays his pipe a normal tune.

For he shall not confront her oh so soon.

“What’s past is prologue,” he says.

“What’s left through this fog,” he muses.

As he continues watching her and friends.

As they prepare to reach their new ends.

The bard knows too well, those that reign in hell

Opposed by heroes, arising from zero.

The Archfiends here stand, opposed to the stars

To take back the Fallen’s Birthright, severed far.

“Sing muse,” Pruflas said. “Sing of my enemies.”

“Bring to me their weaknesses, their knowledge.”

Through song demonic, inspiration struck.

To know more of them, a stroke of good luck.

Pruflas knows Emily, his opposite.

A hero to rise in tandem with him.

If he is to become an Archfiend,

Contend with her he must, lest his star dims.

Yet he knows she is not alone. Her friends besides.

The Crimson Hound, among stalwart allies.

From a land in turmoil he hailed,

To escape those that to him had failed.

And then there is the Spearman, alkahest young.

The survivor of a massacre from lands beyond.

A half-blooded prince. Unfit for the throne.

Could he revive the Golden Spear? An unknown.

And then there is her, the Fairy who guides.

For a goal she may call her own, she flies.

Perhaps she can be of use to the Piper,

To betray the Core, poisoned by the viper.

Those are the four, that he should watch out for.

Yet sixteen more he cannot dare ignore.

The dwarves of Silver and Gold, Heirs both,

To a celestial destiny they forge.

The Piper watches the younger Nina.

Who wants to weave a web of adventure.

The demon sensed, Mana in her high,

Perhaps she could be charmed, and captured.

Pruflas’ vision is turned, to two plants burned.

The Mother, framed for his deeds, exiled.

And the little one, a desire to free,

The Daughter, with potential in gravity.

For even if the fragile roses bloom,

They are guarded by the pinprick of thorns.

And with those pinpricks they yet to wield,

They will become thorns in his side, he feels.

Eleven left to assess, mused he.

To the Piper Pruflas, threats to be seen.

Azure Rouge, driven by injustice,

He fights the Dons, in Noir’s service.

And then there is his wife. Assassin no more.

Redeemed by faith, the sins she bore.

Haunted by a past in service to crime,

She will find her atonement in due time.

The most interesting, to Pruflas he sees,

Eight children, each a spark of divinity.

He cannot parse what in them he perceived,

But he is sure of it, they are fragmentary.

The Leader of this wyrd band of sisters,

Her heart is filled with both love and justice.

With the force of levin she strikes her foes true,

Her enigma, to the demon is no ruse.

At the serpent’s side, an Orphan, ablaze.

No memory of parents, obscured by heat haze.

She burns with endless fire, Ignited,

With a desire for belonging, relighted.

Among their ranks is Little Miss Sunshine,

Her powers as radiant as her smile.

Yet even Pruflas knows beneath the facade lies

A troubled heart, and the cracks belied.

From there the demon finds two entwined.

A Deerlet and Guardian, side by side.

The Piper could sense that their fates were shaped,

By actions taken, for sake of escape.

But escape from whom, one would dare to ask.

The bard curious, for her troubled past.

A past that scarred her to this very day.

Her parents vices, she resists their sway.

The deerlet meanwhile, driven to find,

Parentage she think lost, severed in time.

Though odds of survival are low, she thinks,

That reunion is possible, and nigh.

Opposites attracted, they would dare say,

And there is cause to think so in this case.

One holds the storming tempests in her sway,

The other, resolved to be earthen shield.

Among this group of orphans remained three,

A Bookworm, a Comedian, a Princess.

They too hold a formidable power.

This too, he did not let go unnoticed.

A frozen manor, the cyan one hailed.

Her heart unfrozen, could she prevail,

To find out why her parents had failed,

To return, or to even send mail?

The mermaid swims through air like water.

Her desire to bring joy is dauntless.

Her merriment undeterred by setback.

Or so it may seem. She’d yet to recall…

The lupine one commands shadow itself,

And holds the vast wisdom to match.

Expert on the arcane, a dark lineage,

That she is not aware, as it lingers.

Pruflas observed these girls, and he senses,

Something is amiss amongst the witches.

Could it be? Is it so? Has she returned?

Regardless, he must keep an eye on them.

Yet among Emily’s allies, one more.

One last member for him to account for.

A different princess, from a different land.

The two-tailed Foreigner, secrets locked.

She who unlocked power exponential,

And brought forth an era of potential.

Yet she’s aware of her homeland’s troubles,

And her breakthroughs’ dangers, a myriad.

“Sing muse, sing once more!” Pruflas has sung.

But the well of wisdom has ran dried this time.

His song left at an end, ritual complete.

“Curses,” the Piper says. Disappointed.

The bard looked to the sky. Glimmering bright.

The stars of the Administrators mock him.

The spirits of places. Genius Loci.

The respite has ended, it is now past.

Pruflas smirked, it was no failure.

He now knew more then he had known before.

“What’s past is prologue,” demon said again.

He soon sets off, to guide his adversaries.