The day of the party comes and Stella’s glow shines on Noir as everyone wakes up to the day. At the hotel, Richard looks over the various attire earned from Gatsby Tower, while Sarah slumbers like a log on her bed.
He looks over the various dresses and suits in the closet to his rented hotel room. The dresses are all black with various details. The shorter ones have sleeves and a back, as well as a white skirt for all but one. They were outfits designed with an eye towards modesty, as they come with black shorts. The larger dresses lack those features and instead are sleeveless with spaghetti straps. The bodices of the dresses have a tubular look to them, designed to obscure the feminine silhouettes rather than accentuate them, especially around the waist.
Richard then looks at the three suits among them. Like the dresses, these tuxedos are also black but also have white undershirts and golden ties. These vary in size, with a large one for Heathcliff, a medium-sized one for Tim, and a small one for Richard himself.
Richard feels the various outfits for their material, the black and gold pieces are all silken with an exquisite finish while the white pieces are made of cotton.
“Room service!” a voice cries out.
The sound of the hotel employee rouses Sarah and she rushes towards the door to pick up her food. A veritable smorgasbord of breakfasts is carted into the dwarves’ room. Sarah takes her cart and moves it to her bed, bumping it into Richard in the process.
“Ow,” the blond dwarf cries. “Sister be careful! These clothes are delicate!”
Sarah ignores her brother as she pushes the card next to her bed and climbs back onto it. She takes a platter of toast and eggs and begins to eat. “Why are you looking at those clothes, brother?” she says with her mouth full of food.
Richard examines the clothes further. “A black base would be useful for making the other elements, pop,” he thinks.
Sarah sees Richard is too focused on his task and continues eating the first course of her morning meal.
In the midst of his musing and note-taking, Richard’s stomach begins to growl and he looks around and takes a platter of toast and pancakes to a desk in the hotel room. He wonders if the dreamcloth or the Arachne silk from the denizens of the Black Box can be used for his designs.
The two dark-skinned dwarves hear a knock on the door. “May I come in?” a familiar voice says.
“Of course!” Richard says. The door opens and Minerva enters. The Arachne mother greets the dwarven artisans. “Hello,” she says. “Are you done with the formalwear Richard?”
“Almost,” Richard says. He knows the party isn’t until tonight. He takes one last look at the seventeen outfits. He looks at the designs of the dresses once more. He notices that several were designed with the anatomy of their wearers in mind. He takes out two dresses of identical shape, he sees that the shorts on the smaller one are among a few lacking shorts or legwear in general. He hands the dresses to Minerva, more than aware that the arachnid body of the Arachne is usually exposed. Minerva takes the clothes.
“I’ll be back for the Coloraturas and Charlotte’s next,” Minerva says before leaving.
“Very well,” Richard says. He turns to Sarah, now gorging on a giant muffin.
Sarah notices her brother staring at her and takes a second muffing from the cart. “Want one?” she says.
Richard shakes his head. “Sarah…”
Sarah finishes her muffin with a large gulp and then stands up from her bed, walking to the closest. “I heard. I’ll help you get the kids’ clothes out.”
A few minutes later, after Sarah places her discarded platters on the cart, nine formal outfits are laid out on the bed. The main part of eight of the dresses, intended for the younger among them remain identical, but the nine lacks the white skirt and the pieces that come with them vary in shape.
The shorts for Charlotte, Hydrangea, Streltizia, Clover, and Clover resemble short pants, with the only difference being a hole for the tail in the latter two cases. Clover’s also has slits for her wings in hers.
Lily’s “shorts” are more unusual, suited to her equine body it uses as much material as the dress itself, for it is designed to cover everything between her legs. This subdress also has a hole for her tail as well.
Rose’s and Azalea’s have no legs to speak of, just a tail, because of this their shorts resemble short tubes rather than the kind of pants that come to mind for most.
Raine’s formal shorts are designed to cover her birdlike body. Being more rounded while having slits for her wings to protrude through.
Sarah munches on the last of her breakfast as she and her brother look over the formal wear for the children.
“Come to think of it,” Sarah says. “Do we know how to take care of Lamia, Centaur, Minotaur, Mermaid, Werewolf, Peryton, and Phoenix kids?”
“That is a matter for me, Lydia, and her assistants.” Minerva returns to pick up the outfits.
“Minerva,” Richard says. “I’m curious as to how you raise your young?”
As Minerva places the clothes on her abdomen, she answers Richard’s question. “You’re aware of our broodmothers yes?”
“Quite,” Richard says.
“While the parents still have a role in the development of our children,” Minerva says as she places another dress on her body. “The broodmother and her assistants are the ones tasked with their general care and education. Many of these assistants are the parents of children themselves. They are the responsibility of the brood and it is the broodmother’s chief duty to organize and lead them as they care for the children.”
“I think I heard you say something like that once,” Sarah says. “But—”
“One of the broodmother’s duties is also serving as a surrogate parent to those without,” Minerva says, knowing what Sarah was about to ask. “I’m certain Lydia is up to the task of taking care of the Coloraturas.”
Minerva places the last of the dresses on the bed on her abdomen and leaves the room.
“Okay, what’s next?” Sarah says.
A few minutes later, Richard and Sarah place Emily’s, Elizabeth’s, Heathcliff’s, and Tim’s on the bed. Heathcliff enters the room shortly after.
“Good morning, chers,” the red-headed knight says. “You ready to party tonight?”
“I fear you and I have different definitions of “party”, Heathcliff,” Richard says.
The knight takes the four outfits and leaves. “See you tonight!” he says.
With Heathcliff leaving with the four outfits all that is left is the formalwear for the dwarves themselves. Sarah heads to the bathroom to wash her hands while Richard looks at the remaining attire.
“So Mr. Fashion Expert, can you tell me why the dresses are all black?” Sarah asks from the bathroom.
“Black is one of the most versatile colors in general,” Richard says. “But If I have to trace its trendiness in fashion, that stems from the influences of two people from a few decades back. One took influences from both mourning dresses and maid attires, the other derived his from tailcoats. Though who those are black are beyond me. I heard midnight blue is the common popular color for evening suits.”
“As for the pastels?” Sarah recalls seeing several people in brightly colored suits during her stay in Noir.
“The ‘Zoot’ phenomena,” Richard says. “Seems more specific to younger people.” He wonders if he can weave influences from that subculture into his designs. He looks over the formalwear and sees signs of the aesthetics he wanted to research. The reason he wanted to go to Noir, was to begin with.
Sarah leaves the bathroom and looks over her dress, all black with straps and no back. “Hmm,” Sarah says. “That’s rather simple, isn’t it?”
“Simplicity is its elegance,” Richard says.
Sarah shrugs. “Can I—”
“No,” Richard says. “We can’t sully these outfits.”
Sarah slumps.
“If you’re concerned about the fit, I’ll take care of it,” Richard says. “But we have to look out best for when we return to Gatsby Tower.”
“I was asking if we can have Emily escort the suits after the party?” Sarah says. “In case there is some exotic fabric that she could learn from it.”
“…oh,” Richard says. He muses on the idea. “I don’t think there is, at least none that could be replicated from the spinnerets of our Arachne friends or brought in bulk from specialty stores. In fact, I’m pretty sure the Rosenkreuz guild already has a surplus of cotton and silk.”
“Really? “Sarah says. “I was sure these fancy pants empery use more unique materials.”
“They likely do, but that doesn’t mean Gatsby Tower would weave them into these clothes,” Richard says. “They are for people that had earned invitations, not for those Jay himself invites.”
“Aww,” Sarah says.
Richard chuckles.
A while later, Sarah is reminded of something. “Hey, didn’t Dad mingle with the Noirians a lot?”
“He did, why?” Richard says.
“Maybe I can find some of his old clients? Get to ask them what he was like?” Sarah says.
“Sarah, are you sure that might work? Some of these people might be dead by now,” Richard says.
“You might never know!” Sarah says.
Richard considers the possibility. “He did say that some of his works went to rather well-lived individuals. It might be wroth a shot,” he says.
The dwarves look at their formal wear before heading to the lobby to meet up with the others. They tang the two sets of formal attires back on their closest, makes sure their beds are made, push the breakfast cart outside for the staff to return and then leave the room to head towards the lobby of the hotel to ask what the agenda is for the time before the party at Gatsby Tower tonight.
✦✦✦
Later, Heathcliff leads Emily, Minerva, Nina, Charlotte, and the Coloraturas back to the underground.
“Why isn’t Tim coming again?” Emily says.
“I asked if he can check on you,” Heathcliff says, referring to Emily’s dungeon body. He turns towards the eight Magical girls now under Emily’s care. “So where is this diner you girls used to live at?”
“Over there!” Rose slithers in the direction of a medium-sized building.
The group follows the lamia and sees an eating established with some other patrons. The kids greet one of the employees there.
“Jacquelyn!” Lily says, “We’re home!”
The employee notices the young girls, and some less familiar faces. “Welcome back!” She notices the strangers with them and wonders what this means for Whisper’s plans.
“You know a ghost squirrel named Whisper? “Heathcliff says.
“I do,” Jacquelyn says. “I take this means you decided to take these girls under your care?”
“Of course!” Emily says. “My name’s Emily.
Over the next several hours. The group tells Jacquelyn about the events of the previous week. Including the encounter with the Strega at the Hallward Gallery and the dungeon trips.
“…you managed to get invited to Gatsby Tower?” Jacquelyn says with shock.
“Uh-huh!” Rose says. “Pretty good right?”
“We only did half of the work,” Raine mutters.
“We did very well,” Rose says. “In fact we—” Her gaze suddenly turns to a small statue that caught her eye. “Wow. Where did you get that?”
“A customer handed it to me, Jacquelyn says. “He was very generous.”
Strelitzia looks at Heathcliff with some suspicions. “There is no way someone could be that chummy,” she thinks. Minerva notices Streltizia intensely glaring at the knight.
“So this means you’ll be moving out of Noir soon?” Jacquelyn says with a mix of sadness and relief.
“I think so?” Clover says.
“They re,” Heathcliff says.
“I—erm, the dungeon we live at is in New Virginia,” Emily says in an attempt at a businesslike tone.
“That is rather far,” Jacquelyn says.
“Yeah,” Emily thinks. “I don’t know how it was possible.” She looks back on the children from Hamlin, and the encounters with Pruflas, knowing the demon is responsible, but even beyond that she is unsure of why the extension created from the mana led to Noir to begin with.
Jacquelyn looks at the girls. “Your rooms have not been touched, I’ll give you some bags to pack your things.”
The Coloraturas climb upstairs to the floors where their bedrooms are, Leaving the others alone with Jacquelyn, Nina, and Charlotte following the magical girls. The diner employee looks at the knight and realizes that he seems familiar before. “I'm sorry sir, have we met before?” she asks.
“I don’t think so, cher,” Heathcliff says. “My name’s Heathcliff, Heathcliff Ford.”
The name is definitely unfamiliar to Jacquelyn. Her expression remains bittersweet as she expresses her gratitude for adopting the Coloraturas.
“Excuse me,” Emily says. “How long have you known these girls?”
“A few years now,” Jacquelyn says. “Rose and Raine showed up at the diner one say with their familiar friend, and they’d been living here ever since. Boss had a soft spot for orphans and the diner kinda turned into an impromptu orphanage, over the years.”
“Why this diner?” Minerva says. “Were there not any other places here?”
"'Fraid not,” Jacquelyn says with a sigh. “The Vorhees Gang had raided the only orphanage in the underground and kidnapped the people living there. While the other ones are all on the surface and managed by Elegere. The Rouges had tried to shelter as many as they could within their guildhalls, but most of the children here were left to fend for themselves on these subterranean streets.”
Minerva gasps with shock.
“That’s horrible!” Emily says.
“Why was there only one orphanage here?” Minerva says.
“People tried to build more,” Jacquelyn says. “But the Ebony Guards forbade them, wanting them to be authorized by the city council first.”
“And they just sat around on their derrières as the last one falls,” Heathcliff says with disgust.
Jacquelyn nodded. “The Empyreans on the council agreed with the idea in principle, but argued that the city didn’t have enoughs money for such projects, and also argue the risk that could be incurred by developing on rouge dungeons.”
“Of course,” Heathcliff says. “And the Mayor”
“He argued the fiercest for the orphanages, and for trying to improve the underground in general, but his hands were tied, the councils denied his proposals.”
A somber mood fills the diner counter. One that is broken by one of the patrons asking for Jacquelyn to take their order.
“Coming!” Jacquelyn shouts. “I thank you again, travelers. Maybe these girls could now be able to live a better life away from the city.” She leaves the counter to address the customer.
✦✦✦
Meanwhile, The Coloraturas show Nina and Charlotte around their rooms as they gather their things for the move. Anemone takes her spellbooks and reading material. Azalea takes several comedy props. Rose and Lily take several toys and the others take their belongings.
Nina looks around the floor and sees it in various states of disrepair. The floorboards creak. The walls have some holes and a draft blows from the ceiling. She moves around a gaping hole in the hallway by crawling on the walls. “You guys lived here?” she says.
“Yep,” Rose says. “Not the best of places, but we had to make do?”
Charlotte looks outside a broken window and sees the various buildings of the underground. Some extruded from the surface down to the floors, others were small enough to be nearly invisible behind the taller structures and most showed various signs of urban decay. She also sees various wires, pipes, and tubes on high, each one connected to the surface.
Strelitzia looks outside a different window and sees an entrance to a place even further down, beneath the underground itself. She recalls nightmarish memories of her time spent there.
“Stre!” Clover calls to her, the green-haired fawn looks out and sees the same entrance. “That’s—” She begins to recall how the two used that egress to escape their tormentors before realizing why she called Streltizia to begin with. She takes out a small item from the minotaur’s room. “You forgot this!” Clover says.
Stretlizia looks at a broken picture frame with two torn pictures. One shows a younger version of her, a mere calf, while the other shows a younger version of Clover. One was torn deliberatively, the other by accident. Yet Streltizia took the two images and merged them together. A sign of their bond, and of the life the minotaur wished she had.
Strelitzia looks at Clover. A look of determination is in the winged fawn’s eyes. “Still haven’t given up on finding them?” Strelitzia asks.
Clover gives a wide smile and closes her eyes. “You know it!” she then gaps. “Maybe Emily and the others can help me find them?”
Strelitzia expresses her skepticism about Clover’s little quest. As she always does, yet she tries to be less blunt and more careful around her friend’s desires. “We searched everywhere in the underground,” She says. “And as much of the Surface as we could. Clover I know you miss them, but—”
“Don’t you dare say it!” Clover says while maintaining her smile. “I know they’re alive, I just know it!”
The minotaur relents. “Right, she was always hard-headed about that,” she thinks.
Charlotte continues looking out at the abject display of squalor that is the Underground. Rose sees her looking out and calls her. “Hello? Charlotte? You home, buddy?”
Charlotte is shocked by Rose’s presence. “Oh, Rose.”
“What are you looking at?” the lamia says as she looks out the broken window. Realizing that she was peering into the underground itself. “The underground?”
“Rose,” Charlotte says. “How did you and your friends survive down there?” She has begun to see a different side to the glamorous city of Noir.
“It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you,” Rose says. “Maybe we can ask Emily if she can shelter everyone here?”
Charlotte is curious about Rose’s idea. She is reminded of the children of Hamlin who are now bound to Emily and is filled with uncertainty about whether the Black Box could house a population of that magnitude. “Why would you want to do that.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Rose says. “I’m a Magical Girl! Isn’t it my job to help as many people as I can?”
“Is that really what Witches do?” Charlotte says.
“Of course!” Rose says. “At least I think so. Come on, Nina’s getting a little antsy and we finished packing.”
The children head down to the diner floor. There they see Emily and the others waiting for them.
“Are everyone’s things’ packed?” Emily says.
“Yep,” Rose says. “We’re ready to go.
The eight Coloraturas turn to Jacquelyn. The employee turns to the young children who lived on the floor above the diner. “Good buy girls!” she says, wanting to wish them a fond farewell. The magical girls bid to say their own farewells to Jacquelyn in turn.
By noon, the group leaves the diner. As they do, Emily begins seeing messages appear in front of her. “I want to be a hero!” “I want to have a family” “I want to make people smile!” “Help me find my parents!” “Please, help me learn what had happened to them.” “Grant me strength, so that I can protect her!” “Let me be a light that shines in the shadows!” “Can you bring them to life?” Each phrase is accompanied by flashing images of one of the Coloraturas.
Emily’s avatara stumbles as she takes in all that information. Heathcliff looks at her with concern. “Emily! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she says as she regains her balance. “Just a little clumsier than usual today.” She wonders what the contexts of these phrases and vivid images are. Now forever burned into her mind.
The group has one more destination at the underground before the party at Gatsby Tower over on the surface of Noir. Everyone heads towards the hotel-turned-apartment complex where Esteban and Julia are currently residing. With the intention of picking them up so that they could all head to the tower together.
✦✦✦
While Emily and her group prepare for the party at Gatsby Tower. Esteban meets with one of his fellow rouges.
A burly man wearing a tabard coat approaches Esteban. His jovial expression hides a stern demeanor. “I heard you managed to get the Coloraturas adopted?”
“Perhaps, Raoul,” Esteban says. “I’ve put them in contact with a potential patron, but the choice was theirs.”
“Regardless, it’s a good thing to get them out of the city,” a woman says while putting a tube of nicotine in her mouth. Her attire reveals her as someone who spends her time singing in the local lounges. “These girls needed a patron from what I had gathered.”
A man in a ragged black suit looks at his peers. His ducktail hairstyle is scuffled from his many brawls. “Speaking of patrons, I got the deets on that Empyrean youse in contact with.” He hands Esteban the files. “He seems like a clean fella.”
The blue-coated man looks over the information on hand, public information, and news clippings that tell of a man who built up a fortune despite his humble beginnings from the underground. “Thank you, Mr. Soprano.”
“My pleasure,” the black-coated man says.
“So with eight kids set up to escape this hellscape,” another woman says. “I have to ask one thing. How are we certain the Guards won’t go after their new patron?”
“For one thing,” the smocking woman says. “They seem not to express any interest in Witches. The Syndicate on the other hand.”
“Rebecca,” Esteban says. “I have it on good faith that the patron in question is a formidable dungeon, and that an old friend of mine is helping to maintain it. They will be safe there.”
“Speaking of which,” the burly man says. “Since the dungeon is registered with us, I want to have someone on hand to help oversee it and keep out the more nasty sort for if the Guards let ‘em slip. Esteban, you got your hands empty, so I’m assigning you to the task.”
“Raoul,” Esteban says with some shock. “Are you—”
“Yer the Azure Rouge,” Raoul says. “Outta all of us here, you’re the one with all these connections to the Elegere and more recently the Empyreans. If anyone can help protect that place it’s you. And if things come to a head we’re gonna need a place to escape to.”
“By Astra,” Mr. Soprano says. “What are you talking about?”
“By all accounts,” Rebecca says. “He’s right. The Ebony Guards are patrolling the catacombs leading here more often and some of the Elegere are complaining about having former Exsecratii in their backyards. Even some of the councilmembers are making a fuss about this.”
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“We can try to bring as many as we can out of poverty,” Esteban says. “But the Syndicate and the Guards are angling to bring them back down.”
“You understand,” Raoul says. “This is also why it has to be you to help this dungeon out. If they ever decide to act on their selfishness, then we will need a way to evacuate everyone.”
Esteban looks over everyone. While he is a good adventurer and gatherer of intelligence, the tasks before him are something he thinks is beyond his capacity.
“Mull over it,” Raoul says. “You got time. And besides you got a party to attend, ‘old sport,’” he chuckles.
“Very well,” Esteban says. “Thank you, Raoul.” He tips his hat before leaving.
On the way home, Esteban considers Raoul’s request. He knows that his peer expects something on the horizon. Something that would come to alter Noir in its entirety and as such wants to prepare for it when it arrives. Esteban knows this well. He also knows that the other leaders are busy with their own objectives. Rebecca looking for kidnapped Exsecratii, Raoul organizes the larger missions for the guild, Mr. Soprano looking for intelligence on the Emperyan, the Ebony Guards, and the Syndicate, and Lysistrata organizes a political lobby for addressing the increasing wealth gab that defines the division betwixt Exsecratii and Elegere. Symbolized by the high cost of loving on the surface.
✦✦✦
A while later at the refurbished apartment complex, Julia is making lunch. She uses her knives to chop some tomatoes with expert precision. Esteban walks into their apartment and greets Julia.
“Esteban, you’re back already?” Julia says.
“Pack your things,” he says. “We’re moving out.”
“But why?” Julia says.
He explains that the Rouges had tasked him with overseeing the Black Box’s extension in Noir. Julia understands the reasoning. “You think the Syndicate and the Guards would destroy the underground.”
“Eventually,” the blue-coated man says. “Raoul thinks change is coming and that it is a chance that would destroy the Exsecratii. He wants everyone to prepare for it when it happens.”
Julia understands. She takes several suitcases. “Can you help me pack, honey?”
“With pleasure,” Esteban says.
The two begin to pack their clothes and belongings. Julia rolls her clothing into tight cylindrical shapes with the speed of a cheetah and packs them into her suitcase with tight precision and no space. Esteban takes a slower approach to his luggage. Both to ensure their clothes are packed as nearly as possible.
By the time they are finished packing, there are only two sets of clothing remaining, the formal attire obtained from the previous incursion to Gatsby Tower. A tube-like dress and a suit with a golden tie.
Esteban examines the black tuxedo. “Heathcliff will be arriving in a few minutes,” he says as he takes the outfit and changes.
While her husband changes, Julia reminisces about the day she first met Esteban. On a dark and dank night, she had crossed paths with him several times. As she tries to reach her mark.
One particular night she recalls her confronting an employer of hers.
“We had a deal, Julia,” the employer says.
“You claimed he was a villain,” she says with a glare.
“Of course he is,” the employer says. “He seeks to obstruct the fine work of the council, does that not make him evil?”
“He only stile the food to feed his family!”
The ex-employer chuckles. “And? He failed to earn his keep, much like the other Exsecreatii that defile our fair city. Is it not right to rid Noir of such lazy and cancerous vermin before they sicken the city?”
The memory ends when Julia hears a knock on the door.
“Bonjour, chers.” It was Heathcliff. Emily and her group had arrived to pick them up.
“Hello,” Julia says. “We’re in the middle of packing.”
“Packing?” the knight says. “For what?
Esteban arrives clad in his new formal attire, as well as a black hat he finds that suits the ensemble well. “The Rouges had given me a specific assignment regarding you and your dungeon.” He explains that assignment to the group as Julia prepares to get dressed for the party.
Heathcliff is surprised to hear that The Rouges want to use Emily as their escape route in the event of certain parts of the city bearing down on them.
“You want them to—” Emily is also shocked to hear that.
“Aye,” Esteban says. “Raoul thinks it necessary to find a way to house the Exsecratii in the event the council decides that they are not welcome in the city at all.”
“But why?” Emily says.
“Perhaps you’ll find the answers at the gathering,” Esteban says. “For now know that the only ones making your dungeon their new home would be me and Julia, and the eight witches of course.”
“Glad to have you aboard,” Heathcliff says. “It’ll be just like ol’ times.”
Emily looks at the man with confusion. “Are you sure that the dungeon is a good place as an escape route?”
“Ideally such a route would be unnecessary, but alas we do not live in such an ideal world,” Esteban says. It was at that point that Julia emerged from their bathroom, dressed in her newfound evening wear.
“Tim and the others will be meeting us at the tower!” Heathcliff says. “Allons!”
Emily’s party heads to the surface to prepare for the party at Gatsby Tower.
✦✦✦
Meanwhile, Tim, Elizabeth, Richard, and Sarah look at the part of the Black Box in Noir. They see that the extension has been undisturbed since they left.
Elizabeth places the ten pots of plants that Minerva had bought the children onto a compartment and manifests a terminal to interact with it. The plants begin their journey to the core, alongside a message for Carla.
Richard looks at his various notes so far.
“Party’s gonna start in a few,” Sarah says. “We’ll need to get ready.” She nudges her brother. Richard snaps to the present and realizes that his sister is right. “Elizabeth, do you know where the changing rooms are?”
The fairy obliges the dwarf’s request and leads everyone to specialized changing rooms. Tim is the first to change into his suit and step outside. He takes the opportunity to meditate on the times he succeeded in conjuring a wind shield. He knows that Emily is the constant factor in both successes, but could not fathom why.
Sarah is the second to finish and sees Tim meditating. “Not one to let a good moment go to waste huh?” the dwarf says.
Tim sighs. He knows the opportunity is short-lived and that the part, no matter how dignified, would never be quiet enough for him to practice.
Elizabeth finishes donning her dress next and Richard follows suit. “How do I look?” the blond dwarf says.
“You tell me, Mr. Fashonista,” Sarah says in a teasing tone.
“You look fine,” Tim says curtly. “Is everyone ready?”
The others affirm their readiness and exits the Black Box to meet up with the others at the tower.
✦✦✦
The two groups reconvene at the entrance to Gatsby Tower. As the sun sets on the horizon and weaves a curtain of red and orange over the sky. Nearly everyone is dressed for the occasion, except Emily herself.
Elizabeth notices the discrepancy. “Emily, what happened?”
“I was unable to change my clothes,” the avatara says with a sigh.
“I’ll go see if there is a changing room nearby,” Elizabeth says.
Lily twirls her formal dress skirt around as she prances in her custom-fit dress.
“She sure seems to like it,” Streltizia says.
“So does Nina,” Rose says as she gestures towards the spiderling joining Lily in her prancing, to her mother’s look of slight confusion.
The group enters the tower and finds the lobby filled with more people than usual, several of them waiting in single-file lines. The receptionists ask the liens for their invitations as they enter the golden elevators at the other end of the room.
Elizabeth sees the ladies’ restroom to the side and points it out to Elizabeth. The avatara and fairy rush to the room so that Elizabeth and help Emily wear her dress, while the others hold their place in line.
While waiting in line, a bored Rose looks at the various shiny objects decorating the lobby. The lamia’s eyes are enthralled by the various gold and silver statues. She spaces out for a few moments.
“Rose?” Clover says.
Rose snaps out of her daze and turns to the peryton fawn. “Yes?”
“You ever notice some of these guest looks a little…”
Rose looks around, all of the Emperyan guests look as dignified as they are expected to be, yet the two girls sense a foreboding mana emanating from some of them. They don’t know why, but they felt like several of them are dangerous. Clover wonders how much men and women were victimized by these Emperyans.
A while later, Heathcliff greets the receptionist. “Party of nineteen, cher,” he says as he presents the respective amount of envelopes. Tim keeps an eye on the restroom room awaiting Emily’s appearance. As the knight finishes giving the invitations to the receptionist, Emily, and Elizabeth leave the restroom with Emily now wearing her formal attire. Emily’s purple hair is now done up in a bun.
Tim looks at Emily with a feeling he cannot explain. Emily in turn expresses embarrassment about this dress.
The group then heads towards an elevator that the receptionist points to. The nineteen members of Emily’s party begin their ascent to the 70th floor. Above the levels where Elegere and especially Excecratii are usually barred from entering. The domain of the Emperyans of Noir.
The elevator stops at the 70th floor, a place where the golden aesthetic changes from a brilliant gleaming yellow to a rhapsodic blue. A hue that reminds Emily of herself and her walls in a sense.
The various guests ignore the new arrivals, as they are too busy chatting among themselves and enjoying the various amenities at the tower.
“We gots time before we have to see what ol’ Jay has here,” Heathcliff says to Richard. “If you want, try to mingle with the locals a bit.”
Richard looks at Heathcliff and nods. “Thank you,” he proceeds to take the opportunity to find out and talk to as many fashion experts as he can.
Sarah meanwhile sees the all-you-can-eat buffet and immediately walks toward it.
Emily sees a man in a white suit on a stage in an ornate corner of the room. His dark skin contrasts with his white coat. She can feel mana emanating from him. “Is that—”
Her thought is interrupted by the man’s gregarious greetings. “Greetings one and all. I suppose you know why I’m hosting this party?” The voice matches the one that talked to them during their previous visit.
The various guest chatter in agreement, though only a few know the actual reasons, they all know that Jay is looking for any excuse he can find to host his bash.
“What is the excuse du jour this time?” Heathcliff says.
“A thief being caught by the Ebony Guards.”
Atsuko approaches the party, clad in a traditional kimono from her homeland. “Glad to see you’re here.”
Emily is started by her attire.
“Oh this?” Atsuko says. “Saizo’s idea. He wanted me to ‘take the opportunity to represent Yae Shoto,’ here.”
“So why is it you wanted to…” Emily says before Atsuko cuts her off.
“Shush,” the teal-haired nekomata says. “This may be private but it isn’t that private. Follow me.”
Emily, Elizabeth and Tim follow Atsuko to a table away from most of the other partygoers. At the table they find that Kasumi is there alongside another kunoichi. Kasumi greets her new friends as they sit down on the table.
✦✦✦
At the party, Richard sees a gathering of men and women dressed in unusual attire. One of them is a woman dressed in crimson threads with sequins that shine in the bright blue lights, and a cloche hat that matches. Another was a man draped in midnight blue with gold accents. A third was another man wearing a striped argyle sweater, a felt hat, and trousers. The latter was reading a magazine. Richard knew the man as one of the princes of Ablion.
“Excuse me,” the dwarf says to the man. “Are you by any chance Prince Edward of the house of Thorne?”
The man drops his paper in response to the inquiry and looks at the young dark-skinned dwarf before him. “Indubitably, and you are?” He is well aware that his reputation had preceded him.
Richard maintained his composure despite meeting one of the renowned fashion icons. He tries to break the ice first and struggles to think up a topic.
The prince is aware of his admirer’s silence and chuckles. “Cat got your tongue, I see?” He is used to such behavior.
The red-clad empyrean woman at his side simply glares at the dwarf in disgust.
“Let’s talk about world news,” the prince says. He first opines about his homeland in Albion and how it lacked certain amenities compared to Liberté such as heating.
Richard is somewhat confused by the mundane comparison. “Really? I heard that Albion was the birthplace of steam power and heating.”
“That may be true, but to me, it is clear that the reputation had left them complacent,” Edward says.
Heathcliff looks at the prince with a look of disdain. “Should’ve known the manchild would be here,” he thinks.
Richard talks with Edward for several minutes before finally cutting to the chase. “I’m something of a tailor myself. My sister is a smithy, and I was wondering if we could discuss fashion for a bit?”
“But of course,” the two talk about the current fashion trends and styles from the Empyrean trends to advancements in mana-derived armor, robe, and tabard design. The riveting discussion has given Richard several ideas. And he leaves satisfied.
“So how did it go?” Heathcliff says.
“Better than I thought,” Richard says.
“Great,” the knight said with subtle sarcasm. “It’s time, Esteban and Julia are waiting for us.” The two lead to where the other two are as they prepare to infiltrate the higher vaults of Gatsby Tower.
With Richard out of sight, the red-clad lady turns to the prince “Why did you give that dwarf fashion advice? Are you suddenly in the mood to influence childrenswear?”
Edward turns at the woman. “I know when someone comes to seek my counsel and if I am to be king one day, it would help to address concerns now more than later.”
“You say that,” the blue-clad man says “but I don’t see you actually studying the concerns of the people here.”
“Hush Flash,” Edward says. “I’m well aware of Noir’s Esecreatii problem, a demographic concern similar to Albion’s. But I think it a problem that would eventually solve itself”
✦✦✦
Meanwhile, Atsuko talks with Emily, Elizabeth, and Tim about her plans.
“Microdugneons?” Elizabeth says. “You think that there are hidden [dungeons] in items?”
The Yanese girl nods in affirmation. “Correct, I believe these microdungeons exist. A microcosmos that permeates every item, or at least every mana-rich item in existence.”
“Why do you need a Dugneon for this?” Emily says.
“My hypothesis is that the dungeon cores, as alleged creations of the Forgemaster, are suited for facilitating access to the microdugneons,” Atsuko says. Her speech is polite and matter-of-fact. “And that some were able to access the microdugneosn and use them to unlock the latent mana in their items. This would explain unusual aberrations where certain dungeons, such as the Crypt of L’a, would yield legendarily powerful arms and armor in such a short timeframe.”
“Latent mana?” Emily says
“[Mana] permeates everything,” Elizabeth says. “But it has been noted that the average item only allows access to ten to twenty percent of the mana stored inside. The more powerful weapons can allow use of half or higher of its capacity, but those tend to be very rare.” She then looks at Atsuko with skepticism. “Which is part of the reason why I’m skeptical of the existence of these microdugneons. Forgive me.”
“Your skepticism is warranted,” Atsuko says. She is aware of how dungeon fairies are convinced they know everything there is to know about dungeons. “I know it is difficult to believe, worlds inside humble objects and all, but my studies in Yae had led me to this point. The problem is that I need a dungeon that has not only the ability to generate strong mana-dense items, to begin with, but also one that can access and manipulate them at a near molecular level. Judging from my observations of the items Saizo and his team had gathered from here, your dungeon is the most capable for the task out of those we have encountered thus far.”
Emily is surprised to hear that. “Thank you, b-but I…”
The jazzy tunes begin to slow down, and the dancers performing dances such as the Charleston give way to couples performing waltzes and tangos. Tim looks at Emily with curiosity.
“Maybe a dance will help you clear your head, Emily,” Elizabeth says. “I’ll discuss the matter with Atsuko in the meantime.”
Emily looks at the paired dancers and begins to feel like she needs a partner. “Tim, maybe you can…” she says with a flustered expression.
“Sure,” he says, thinking little of the request. He takes his friend’s hand and they move toward the dance floor. They pass Hoshikage and Kasumi along the way, the latter’s expression furrows a little as she sees Tim and Emily head out to dance.
As Tim and Emily dance together, the young man is surprised at how clumsy their steps are. A stark contrast to her more element manuals when fighting with her two weapons. “How is the avatara?” Tim says. “Are you used to it now?”
“Yeah,” Emily says. “It feels like a second body to me.” Her expression is forlorn as she sees the couples dancing around her, many of them watched by younger spectators.
As the two dance together Emily accidentally bumps into a stranger in a white coat. “Sorry!” she says. The man and his partner move away from the two. A while later, another couple bumps into Emily and causes them to nearly fall. Tim catches her before her head collides with the floor. The two blush in flustered embarrassment.
“M-maybe you could help me with my coordination a bit?” Emily sheepishly asks.
“Of course,” Tim says. He walks her through the steps of a waltz.
As the two dance, Elizabeth and Atsuko discuss the latter’s plans.
“What about [Gatsby Tower]?” Elizabeth says. “Maybe Jay could help you with your plans?”
“This place was the first one I tried,” Atsuko says. “But it turns out that despite his collection of priceless artifacts, he lacked the proper qualities I’m looking for. In fact, none of the dungeons in Noir had exited the capacity to manipulate objects on small scales.”
“Interesting.” Elizabeth is still skeptical about the microdungeons but sees potential in Atsuko’s hypothesis. “What exactly do you need to prove your hypothesis?”
“Well,” her tone takes on a more informal one. “Besides the dungeon, I’ll also need an idea with a high mana capacity, something that has been used for years. A weapon. I think that the memories of its wielder might help shape the microdungeon itself. Aside from that, I’ll need to construct a portal to shrink our explorers so that they can enter the microdugneons, to begin with.”
“I see,” Elizabeth says. “You do realize the implications of an item being a dungeon core unto its itself, no matter how small?”
“That the items are basically alive in a sense?” Atsuko says. “Yeah. There is precedence for living weapons and empathic armor in history, some see them as tall tales or legends, but the frequency of these instances implies something else is at play here.”
“How versed are you in the topic of [the Administrators]?” Elizabeth says.
“Very,” Atsuko says. “They tend to pop up a lot in my research and I can see the connecting threads to dungeons. These are claimed to be the spirits of locations, the Cosmos, the seas, the volcanoes, the continents, the sun, and the moon. All claimed to be alive and deified. In a sense, they see these locations if not every location as having a will of their own, much like how a dungeon has a will of its own. An animating consciousness. A Genius Loci.”
Elizabeth is somewhat cognizant of the connection but is stunned when she hears Atsuko spell it out forthrightly.
“It’s been said that the Forgemaster created the dungeons, but he too was born by the Cosmos. Whose to say the dungeons don’t have their progeny in a sense?” Atsuko says.
“Your reasoning is…sound,” Elizabeth says. She seems nearly convinced that there is a possibility that the microdungeons do exist. “But then why?” she thinks. “Why do I know nothing about them?”
Atsuko looks patiently at the fairy, waiting for her response. After a while, Elizabeth speaks. “How dangerous would these experiments be?”
“I cannot say,” Atsuko says. “I’m well aware this is uncharted territory for me as well, and there are some risks, but I can assure you that the dungeon itself would not be destroyed in the process.”
“How so?”
“Many of my failures had left them no worse for wear,” she says. “Even ones as far back as the tri-forked roads of Cerberus.”
Elizabeth mulls over the risks. She sees a fiery determination and conviction in the nekomata’s eyes. “Alright, if you think these types of dungeons do exist, then we’ll see what we can do to assist you.”
“Great!” Atsuko says. “I’ll be there in a couple weeks. Got to gather the equipment first.”
Emily and Tim finish their dance and find a familiar white-coated man watching them like a hawk.
“That was a marvelous turnaround,” the man says. “Going from two left feet to having proper coordination. Well done, old sport.”
Emily and Tim deduce from the man’s speech that he is an avatara of Jay Gatsby. Tim looks at the avatara with suspicion.
“Um, think you mister…” Emily tries to feign ignorance of his identity.
“I’m just a humble master of ceremonies,” the gregarious man says. The atmosphere grows tense as the other partygoers look at their host and the two guests.
✦✦✦
The Coloraturas, Charlotte, and Nina, under Minerva’s supervision, mingle with some of the younger guests at the party.
Lily introduces herself to a young boy. “Hello! I’m Lily!” she says. The young Elego is startled by the centaur lass’s exuberant greeting.
“Um, hi?” the boy responds. The mood is awkward as the lad tries to find a topic to talk to Lily about. “So, do you play with toys?” he says. “What a dumb question!” he thinks.
“I have some dolls!” Lily says. “You wanna see my teddy?” she takes out a well-worn plush bear toy. “This is Freddie, say hi, Freddie!”
The boy’s parents see Lily and her plush toy. The sight of the dirty plush doll, causes her eyes to widen in shock. She calls her son over.
“I have to go,” the boy says. “Mother’s calling me.” He excuses himself from Lily.
“Okay, we can talk later!”
Meanwhile, Rose and Raine take some of the sweets from the buffet, they bump into Sarah. “Hey guys,” Sarah says. “Here to try out the grub?”
“We wanted to see what treats they have,” Raine says. “That’s all.”
“Rose takes some chocolate-covered cookies from one of the platters. “It’s not every day you get to eat sweets like—” She sees a cake being placed on an empty tray and slithers to its immediacy.
“Rose…” Raine says.
Sarah chuckles, before turning to Raine. “You two seemed like such good friends.”
“What are you talking about?” Raine says. “We’re just teammates is all.”
Rose gorges herself on the cake as she overhears Raine’s res ponce. “Raine and I knew each other for years,” she says with her mouth full. To the aghast expressions of nearby diners. She swallows her food before continuing. “She and I are the first Coloraturas.”
“It was an alliance of convenience!” Raine says.
“Sure it is,” Rose says. Though Raine tries to deny it, Rose and the others know the phoenixian girl cares deeply for them.
Sarah giggles. She takes a large platter of meat.
Raine sighs. “So, how did you and your brother wind up with them?”
“Got lost trying to get materials, got kidnapped, got rescued by Emily and her friends,” Sarah says. “Rather simple you know?”
“Uh-huh,” Raine says.
“Who kid—” A banquet of Rose-shaped chocolates and sparkling soda rolls in and catches Rose’s eyes. “Sparkly!” she says as she slithers away.
Meanwhile, Clover asks several people around for certain information.
“I’m sorry,” one Elego man says. “I know nothing about your disappeared parents.”
“Never heard of them,” an Exsecratii man says. “Now scram!”
“I’m afraid I do now know where your parents went my dear,” an Empyrean woman says. “My apologies.” The woman leaves.
Clover sighs. Azalea swims to Clover. “Still no luck?” the mermaid says.
“Yeah.” Clover hangs her head in disappointment.
Streltizia approaches the two, with three plates of salads in her palm. The three end up eating with Anemone, Charlotte, and Nina at a table near Minerva.
“I heard they are filming the next movie in the ‘Fairy Princess’ series!” Anemone says with a cheerful smile. “Isn’t that exciting?”
“It would be,” Streltiiza says “if they weren’t so samey!”
“What do you mean?” Nina says.
“Young girl has a horrible life, meets a dude, falls in love and gets a happy ending,” Streltizia says. “It’s the same plat with a new coat of paint every time!”
“That’s not true!” Awesome says.
“Yeah,” Azalea says. “Sometimes there’s two coats of paint. Like that one film with the mermaid clan off the Yanese coasts!”
Nina and Charlotte are confused about the subject matter, not having entered a movie theater before.
Hydrangea approaches the group as they talk about the film franchise. “What about the one where one of them traveled with three companions in a faraway world?”
“The one with the dog and scarecrow?” Azalea says. “That one had me in stitches.”
“What about the one about the lamia who discovered she was the missing princess?”
“Those are a dime a dozen!” Streltizia says. “You’ve seen one of those cheap flicks, you’ve seen them all.”
“That’s not true!” Anemone says. “There is more depth to these films than you give them credit for.”
“Sow so?” Streltizia says.
“‘The Girl and the Glass Slipper’ had a subplot about the stepmother and stepsisters’ reasons for being mean to the heroine. ‘La Libertad,’ explores the perils of colonialism through the eyes of a native woman and her decision to spurn the colonist love interest. ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ had themes of possession and an ending that reveals that the heroine, in letting herself be charmed by the Phantom, had been forever separated from those she held dear. You would know all this if you’ve seen the movies, Stre.”
Streltizia takes a bite from her salad, ignoring Anemone’s impassioned words.
Azalea notices that the alraune and spiderling remain dumbfounded at the unfamiliar topic. “Um, what are you talking about?”
“Movies, silly!” Azalea says.
“What are those?” Nina asks. Azalea and Anenome are shocked.
Minerva arrives. “Is there a problem, ladies?”
“You bet there is!” Azalea says. “These two girls have never seen a movie in their lives?”
“You do realize Charlotte came from a rural village, right Azalea?” Streltizia says.
The clionid mermaid makes a stunned face as she recalls that fact. “Okay about what about Nina then?”
Minerva explains. “I’ve tried bringing my daughter to a few years back, but the owner and other guests found her too noisy and kicked us both out.”
“That’s a lie!” Nina says. “I did not cry through three hours of flickering pictures.”
Minerva giggles. “Well, maybe we can have a movie night when we return home.”
“Is there a theater in Rosenkreuz?” Clover says.
“Of course, dear,” Minerva says.
✦✦✦
Tim and Emily look at Jay, who expresses a clear interest in them. “I’m glad to see you again, old sport.”
“Um,” Emily says. “Thank you?”
The air is tense and awkward as Jay tries to make small talk with the fellow dungeon and her sentinel.
“Did you know about the counsel’s decision to have the Ebony Guards police the underground more often?” Jay says.
“No,” Emily says. “Why?”
“They believe that with the recent capture of the Exsecratus hooligan, that they need a closer eye on it.” Jay looks around at Tim before looking back at Emily. “Of course, that needn’t concern you. The Guards are very protective of the dungeons under their aegis.”
“Oh,” Emily says.
Tim sees Richard talk with Sarah at the nearby buffet. He is aware of how “protective” the Ebony guards are of the city’s dungeons. “What do you want?”
“Can’t a man mingle with another?” Jay says.
“Heathcliff told me all about you,” Tim says. “Whatever plans you have for The Black Box, you can forget it!”
Jay maintains his jovial tone. “I see, I had heard the knight had taken on an appearance recently. He looks around and sees that Heathcliff is absent from the party. “Rather curious indeed,” he thinks.
“Hello there,” Sarah says as she approaches the three. “The buffet is excellent!” she lets out a small burp. “You should give it a try guys.”
Emily looks at the buffet and notices that half of the trays were outright empty.
“By the way, sir,” Sarah says to Jay. “Perhaps you can tell us some stories of your more unusual guests?”
“Of course,” Jay says. “Gather round! For I shall tell you of the many attempts on my halls and how I repelled them.”
Minerva, Nina and Charlotte notice Emily, Tim and Sarah near Jay.
“Mommy,” Nina says. “Is that?”
While Jay is distracted by his story. Sarah signals to Minerva to get the others and leave.
Elizabeth and Atsuko also see Sarah with Jay and also notices Heathcliff and Esteban are missing. She turns to Atsuko. “How good are you ninja are at escapes?”
The nekomata realizes what is happening and that the fairy with her realizes that they will have to bow out of the party soon. “I’ll see what Hoshikage and Kasumi can do.”
The Coloraturas also notice their new patron near the avatara of Gatsby Tower. Minerva approaches them. “Girls, its time to leave.”
“Huh?” Rose says. “But why?”
“I suspect that someone is gonna disrupt the party, and we do not want to be here when it happens.” She gathers the eight magical girls, as well as her daughter and the alraune child and begins to head towards the elevator.
✦✦✦
A while later, Jay tells of how he fended off the pirate crew of Morgan Sternwater when the azure lights suddenly turn crimson. “What in the—” he says before realizing that this means someone had intruded on more private areas. “Excuse me,” he says.
As Jay leaves, Elizabeth flies to Emily. “We have to go. Minerva has already left with the kids.”
Atsuko instructs Kasumi to discretely fill the room with mist, confusing the patrons, but allowing a cover for Emily, Tim, Sarah, and Elizabeth to escape from the confused masses. The four meet up with Atsuko and her kunoichi as they make their way to the stairwell leading to the ground floor and descend it under the cover of Kasumi’s fog covering the entire halls of the seventieth floor. They make their way to the ground floor and escape through an unguarded passage.
“You might want to find a safe place to hide,” Atsuko says.
“I know just the place,” Elizabeth says.
“Thank you,” Emily says.
“My pleasure,” Atsuko smiles. “I’ll be seeing you in a few weeks. Toodles!” She and Hoshikage leave. Kasumi takes a good look at Tim and Emily before she follows her fellows.
Emily leads the others towards where her extension in Noir is located. Under the certainty that Minerva and the children are already there.