I comforted Izumi in my arms, smoothing her hair and whispering soft assurances that it was all over now. She breathed and hyperventilated before calming down with deeper, heavy breaths.

Raiju's presence lingered in my mind as I stared at the severed head of the man who had tried to kill us. Suddenly, I felt its presence vanish and stared at the bloodied corpse of Krieg, unable to understand what had just happened.

Midori stood in front of us, sheathing her sword as she regarded the lifeless corpse with disgust and disbelief. She reached down, pulling her original sword that'd also been lodged in Krieg's chest. Both swords vibrated and vanished in a flash of green light.

Her eyes were empty and sad, her expression one of bitter resignation.

"I'll go get Talia. Get everyone out from the vehicle, Ikki."

My eyes widened as the air around Midori began to swirl, and I sprinted back toward the overturned van where my dad was still trapped. I reached in through the shattered window and pulled him out, holding him in my arms as I carried him to safety. Then, I rushed back to retrieve the two children in the rear.

I got them out and checked them. They were still breathing, but they were injured and needed to be treated. Thiago had a deep cut on his shoulder that would need stitches, and both were still out cold.

Midori reappeared with Talia in tow, and they immediately set to work.

She did her best to give first aid to the children while Talia focused on my father. I couldn't help but feel a little envious of how they worked together.

They were so... efficient.

I returned to comfort my sister as she calmed down from the battle. It was easy to forget after she'd turned into a superpowered magical girl and disabled the cars chasing us. Still, she was just a thirteen-year-old girl who had been put through so much more than any little sister should have to handle.

"Ikki... I'm sorry," Izumi choked out, her voice trembling as she started crying. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to do more... I'm sorry we almost died and I couldn't protect anyone. I'm so weak and all I've done is get beat up and put you in danger since you came back to visit. I'm sorry I ruined your weekend."

I tightened my embrace, gently rubbing my cheek on her hair to comfort her. I didn't know what to say to her.

"I know, Izumi. It's all over now. I'm here with you. Everything is going to be okay."

I knew I was lying. I wasn't a hero like her or Midori. No matter how much I wanted to protect my sister, I could do only so much. I had no idea how or why Raiju managed to summon those mechs, but I was thankful for the creepy AI's rescue.

I was weak, and I knew it. Still, I could be here with my little sister when she needed me.

Izumi sobbed into my arms, and I let her cry. There was nothing else I could do.

"Don't worry, Izumi. I'll never let anyone hurt you, ever again," I promised.

I had no way of keeping that promise, but I could sure as hell try.

I was her brother, and I'd protect her no matter what.

----------------------------------------

"So..."

...

"So."

Midori and I were sitting across from each other at one of the few hospitals still operating in the city. The overhead fluorescent lights cast a harsh glow on the worn tiles, emphasizing the scars of the war that ravaged this city over a decade ago. I couldn't help but notice the way Midori's eyes flickered over to me every so often as if trying to decipher a secret code.

We sat in the hospital side room, the fluorescent lights flickering above us. Midori's gaze became distant, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. She seemed preoccupied, and I couldn't help but wonder what was happening inside her head. I, too, was lost in thought, trying to make sense of the events that had unfolded.

The silence between us was uneasy, yet neither of us seemed willing to break it. I could sense that something was bothering Midori, but I was hesitant to pry. I replayed the scene in my mind, recalling how she had fought without drawing on her full magical girl powers. It was impressive, but it left me with a nagging curiosity.

Finally, I couldn't hold back any longer. "Midori... I couldn't help but notice you refused to use your full powers in the fight. Is... is everything okay?" I asked, my tone gentle and cautious as I probed.

Midori tensed up at my question and then clammed up, her gaze shifting to the floor. She seemed unwilling to answer, so I stayed quiet and waited, wondering what was going on in her head. After a few moments of strained silence, she finally spoke up.

"I... I used up too much of my Lumina in helping the children, so it wouldn't have been safe for me to transform into a magical girl there."

It was clear that there was more to her situation than she could reveal, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of concern and curiosity. However, I understood that pressing her further would only strain our relationship.

But I couldn't let it go. Should I have just let it go?

"I see... but, why was it unsafe for you?" I asked.

I probably shouldn't have pried, but I had to know. Midori's face paled, her expression darkening as she scrambled to find the right words. She took several deep breaths before she spoke.

"I'm not a magical girl anymore, Ikki," she said, her expression serious.

I remained silent for a moment, trying to process what she said.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

The situation was strange, but I couldn't help but feel that she was hiding something.

"Because... I'm no longer a magical girl."

She looked away from me, her eyes glazing over as she stared through me.

I tilted my head. "But... don't you still have your powers?"

"I do..."

She paused, and I could tell that she was trying to figure out the best way to explain things to me. She looked away from me, her eyes turning distant as she tried to articulate her thoughts. Then, she looked up and took a deep breath.

"There is a secret that all magical girls who cross a threshold are told and sworn to secrecy over. Have you ever wondered why there are so few active magical girls above thirty? Or why all the magical girl rankings have a huge drop-off shortly after their twenty-fifth birthday?"

I thought back to the lists I had seen before. There was a very definite pattern when it came to the ages of magical girls across Terra.

"The truth is that most magical girls don't last too long after they turn thirty," Midori explained. "The truth is... Lumina decays naturally to Chaos Energy, and our bodies lose resistance to that energy over time. The same Chaos Energy that creates zombies and Chaos Beasts in their victims."

I felt my heart skip a beat. My mind was racing as I tried to comprehend what Midori was saying. It was a lot to take in, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping over me.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Midori's hands shook as she spoke, her face contorted into a grimace as she showed me a side of herself I'd never seen before. I could tell that this was a difficult subject for her. Still, she pressed onward nonetheless, pulling on a mask of determination to make herself continue.

"Once we reach a certain point, there's no going back. The Lumina that once sustained us turns against us, and we become something far less than what we once were. Suppose a magical girl continues to use her Lumina after the first signs of resistance decay appear. In that case, she risks succumbing to Chaos Energy and dying, or worse. Most magical girls voluntarily retire before they turn thirty to avoid 'Cascade Syndrome.' However, some will fight until they can no longer and choose euthanasia instead."

I listened to her words, feeling a mix of disbelief and fear. This was the first time I had heard of such a thing, and I couldn't help but wonder how many other secrets the magical girl world was keeping from society at large.

"But... you're only seventeen. You still have time," I said, still trying to wrap my head around this.

Midori shook her head. "It's not just about age, Ikki. The process is different for every magical girl. Three years ago, we narrowly avoided an Imperatore's manifestation in Asia and... my powers were the cost. To say any more would be a disservice to all the brave magical girls perished back then. I can still transform, but after all that teleporting I did, it just wasn't safe today. Talk about a rock and a hard place, you know?"

I could see the pain and fear in Midori's eyes, which broke my heart. It was clear that she was struggling with the reality of her situation, and I knew that there was nothing I could do to help her. All I could do was listen.

"I'm sorry, Midori," I said softly. "I had no idea."

She gave me a small smile, and I could see a sense of relief wash over her at my words. "It's okay, Ikki. I didn't want to burden you with my problems."

"That's not a burden, Midori. We're friends, remember?" I said, smiling back at her. "Family, even."

Midori's eyes widened at my words, and I could see a glimmer of hope in her expression.

"Thank you, Ikki. That means a lot to me," she said, her voice shaking slightly.

We sat silently for a few moments, each lost in our thoughts. But then, Midori spoke up again.

"Ikki... How did you do that earlier? Summon that Aeolus unit?"

I could sense the conversation turning and was more than anxious about it. I knew I would have to address it in our discussion. "Ah, that. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. I'm not sure if I hallucinated it, but I heard and felt Project Raiju in my head. Then, I just...felt it," I said, shrugging.

Midori's expression turned curious. "Felt it?"

I nodded. "Yeah. It was like a surge of energy, and then I could see the Aeolus in my mind's eye. After that, it was just...there. With a giant electric hammer. Helping us fight the cyborg Nazi."

Midori looked at me with an intense expression, her eyes narrowing. "That sounds like the type of power only an exceptionally gifted magical girl could tap into."

I chuckled nervously, feeling a bit foolish. "It could be, but I'm not a magical girl like you, Midori. I don't have any powers like that."

Midori looked at me with a penetrating gaze as if trying to see through me.

"Ikki, I think you're underestimating yourself. You saw that mech, felt that energy. That's not something that just anyone can do."

I felt a shiver run down my spine at her words. What if she was right? What if there was more to me than I had ever realized?

"But... how could I have powers like that? I've never undergone any kind of transformation or anything," I said, feeling a sense of unease creeping over me. "I've been a normal guy my whole life."

Midori shrugged. "Maybe it's latent. Maybe it's something that's been lying dormant within you all this time. Maybe it's an Earth thing."

I frowned at the last statement. "An Earth thing?"

Midori nodded. "Yeah. There are some people who believe that Earth is special, like it has its own kind of magic. Maybe you're tapped into that somehow."

I wasn't sure what to make of that, but I filed it away for later. For now, there was still the issue of Midori's situation.

"Umn. Is there anything I can do to help you, Midori?" I asked, wanting to do anything I could to ease her burden.

Midori shook her head. "Unfortunately, there's not much anyone can do. It's just something I have to come to terms with."

I could see the sadness in her eyes, and it broke my heart. But I knew that I had to support her, no matter what.

"I'm here for you, Midori. Whenever you need me," I said, putting my hand on hers.

Midori gave me a small smile, and I could see a twinkle of light in her expression. "Thank you, Ikki. That means a lot to me."

As we sat there in silence, waiting for word about my dad and the two children she'd rescued, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The reality of Midori's situation weighed heavily on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to all of this than either of us realized.

The idea that a magical girl's powers could turn against her after a certain point was terrifying. It made me wonder how many secrets the magical girl world was hiding and what other dangers lay ahead.

But for now, all I could do was be there for Midori, to support her through whatever lay ahead. And if there was anything I could do to help her, I would do it in a heartbeat.

Just then, we heard a knock on the door, and Midori jumped up to answer it. She opened the door to see my dad standing there, safe and sound, with the two rescued children beside him.

Relief washed over me at the sight of them, and I quickly got up to hug my dad and check on the kids.

"Thank goodness you're all okay," I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

My dad gave me a tight hug, and I could also feel his relief. "We're all fine, Ikki. Thanks to Midori here."

He gestured to Midori, who was standing off to the side, looking a bit embarrassed.

"I just did what anyone would have done," she said, smiling faintly.

I could see the exhaustion in her eyes, and I knew she had pushed herself to her limits to save those kids. It only made me feel more determined to help her in any way I could.

"Come on, let's get out of here then," I said, getting up to leave.

We made our way out of the building with and into the cool night air, relieved to be out of danger. The two children no longer looked as frightened as they were earlier, and Talia and Izumi were having a quiet but animated discussion at the back of our group.

The cold autumn air bit into my nose, prickling the hairs inside. The faint scent of burning oak leaves was in the air. As we walked down the street, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping up on me again. The feeling was like poison working its way through my veins.

"What are you thinking, Ikki?" my dad asked, sensing my apprehension.

I stopped in my tracks.

"I don't know, Dad. It just feels like there's something going on that we don't know about. Something big," I said, looking over at Midori. "Almost like a predator is watching us from afar and just waiting for the right moment to strike."

Midori nodded in agreement, her expression serious. "I've been feeling the same, Ikki. There's something off about all of this. There were some... interesting things and people I'd encountered in the warehouse, to say the least."

My dad looked at both of us with concern etched on his face. "What do you mean? What kind of things and people?"

Midori hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "The Harbingers of the Dawn. A mercenary group was staging a rescue for the children when I teleported you out, Uncle Zane. They were heavily armed and engaged in battle with the Nazis. I decided to flee with Thiago and Mei here to ensure their safety."

The Harbingers of the Dawn. Bathala's group?

My dad's expression turned grave. "Harbingers of the Dawn? I've heard rumors about them. They're not a group to be taken lightly."

"What kinds of rumors, Dad?" I asked, feeling a sense of dread creeping up on me.

My dad shook his head. "Just that they're a dangerous PMC comprised of both Terrans and Earthlings who will do whatever it takes to get what they want. They're not afraid to use violence if necessary."

My heart sank as I took in my dad's words. If the Harbingers of the Dawn were involved, things were definitely worse than I had feared.

"What do you think they were after, Midori?" I asked, turning to her.

Midori's eyes were narrowed in thought. "It's hard to say. It seemed to me like they were paid to rescue the children, or maybe they were after something else in the warehouse. Either way, I didn't stay to find out."

I nodded in agreement, feeling the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders. We were in way over our heads, and I wasn't sure if we were prepared for what was to come.

Walking down the street, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching us. I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see a group of armed mercenaries closing in on us.

But the street was empty, save for a few stray cats and the occasional passerby.

"Let's keep moving. The longer we stay here, the more vulnerable we are," my dad said, breaking the silence.

We picked up our pace and headed towards our designated safe house, staying alert for any signs of danger. The quiet of the night was deafening, and the stillness made my skin crawl.

Still, the rest of the walk over to Harlem was uneventful. I couldn't help but feel relieved when we reached it — it was a small, two-room apartment located in an all-but abandoned walk-up.

My dad quickly scanned the area before ushering us in. Once inside, we began making preparations for our stay.

Dad scurried around, making sure to secure all access points, ensuring that no one was able to enter without his knowledge. We all agreed not to leave until morning light before settling down for much-needed rest.

Even after everything that had happened that night, I still couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Something about this place felt wrong — like something was lurking just outside our sight, waiting for its chance to strike.

I settled into a bed, the smell of mildew and dust filling my nostrils as I tried to fall asleep. But every creak and groan of the old building made my heart race with fear.

As I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. Would we be able to survive the dangers that lay ahead? Would we be able to protect ourselves and those we cared about?

One thing was sure — we'd have to be ready for whatever came our way.

...

Off in another world far, far away, a woman gazed through her hand mirror and smiled wickedly. Her fingers traced the intricate lines of the ancient mirror, as though she could feel its secrets in every part.

She knew what was coming; even if nobody else did. The trove she had discovered a generation ago was finally yielding its fruits, but that would not be enough.

She chuckled to herself, her eyes fixed on the image of the Authority bearer's group through the mirror. They were so young, so naive, so completely unaware of the winds gathering against them.

But that was about to change.

For humanity to survive. For her ultimate desire to be met, these children would need to be ready. And they were far from ready.

She knew it would be difficult, and sacrifices would have to be made.

For her endgame, no sacrifice was too great.

Including her very own blackened soul itself.