The call came early, way earlier than [The Prophet] had told it would come, but it came nonetheless.
She felt the calling from the [Artifact] on her wrist and soon enough found herself being pushed inward, it was a weird feeling as always but not something she was surprised about.
"Greetings Eleanor." Called the woman who didn't even bother to hide her identity, she still didn't like her.
Was it the demeanor? The way she pretended to be the boss? Or the [Stink] of her holy mana?
She wasn't sure, but it was annoying. Maybe [Framework] was right, never trust an Italian. "Lucia," And just like that she frowned, it was so easy to make [The Prophet] angry. "Are we still trying to get that girl? What makes her so special?"
[The Prophet] had been raving on and on about this girl, Rossaline Singh. And the only thing special to her was her last name, she had talent yes. But most should be able to feel their [Soulscape] around level 20-30(If they had talent).
She couldn't be sure of course since she wasn't a [Magical Girl], the only reason she was allowed in the council was because they needed muscle and [The Prophet] wanted to entice the former [Tainted] magical girls that worked under her.
Not that they would join, none would, not even that [Lunar Shade] girl would, not after how the government had treated them, not after how the other [Magical Girls] had treated them.
She was surprised they hadn't had an uprising as soon as the [Taint] was cleansed, but then again, most feared being turned into a second coming of [The Stygian Bane]. And being smitten by [Framework] or [Odyssey] wasn't something to look forward to.
Of course, she knew [Framework] wouldn't do that, she wasn't so sure about [Odyssey], most of her memories of them had been purged. But she was sure that she knew both even if they hadn't interacted much in the years before their [Apotheosis].
"We need Rossaline because she is a [Hero] that managed to slip through our defenses, their [Fate] is heavier so if they continue to be a wild card with no allegiances we are in danger." [The Prophet] spoke, still rambling about controlling [Fate].
"You are playing a dangerous game." Another voice spoke, this one was the one that allowed them this meeting. One of the [Nine Stars] that wasn't a Magical user. "I have fulfilled my deal, this will be the last time you will use me as a means to achieve your meetings."
And then he disappeared, just like he showed up he vanished in the air. What kind of skillset had he awakened after the [Advent] to be able to do this?
[The Traveler] was a mystery, was he a mage? a powered?
What was the [Job] he got then?
"Hmph, he should learn to speak to his boss." The [Prophet] grumbled away, but she wasn't the boss, was she?
They didn't have one, the closest one to that spot had left already, and not a single one of the remaining ones had tried to take that position. She understood why of course, the same reason she wasn't running for the spot.
No one wanted to deal with the Italians, even at their level of power, one didn't disregard a whole nation casually.
"We are ready, she should be about to land." [The Warlock] said as he took his place at the table, most of the other people around put on their cloak and so, the play began.
The girl seemed to be stronger than before, her [Soul] even more stable and her mana was cycling inward and returned pure, now that was interesting. Had she taken a [Shadow] skill and wanted to make sure she wasn't affected by it?
No, she didn't reek of [Shadows]. Then why was she purifying her mana?
The conversation after that went as she expected, the girl wanted something and didn't want to give away anything, she could respect a girl who knew her worth. But even so, she was getting an invite to join the most privileged group in the world and still wanted something out of it?
She was a cheeky girl.
At least till she came forward with what she wanted out of the deal.
"Can any of you tell me who the F#ck is [The World] and any way to Kill it?" That seemed to chill most of those around the table.
Cowards the lot of them, she was aware that only five of the fourteen here were members of [The Nine] and even among them these two didn't speak...ever.
So this girl wanted to fight against [The world] that was funny, way too funny.
She couldn't help but flex a little of her [Skill]...no. Her [Skills], plural, she could feel the presence of her creations fill the shadows around, all staring at the girl in front...
A flex of her mana was all she needed to send the lovely [Monsters] to inspect her, to search within the [Memory] of her shadow for clues... only for her scout to be killed as soon as they made contact.
Huh?
Something stared back from within the shadow of the girl, a pair of reptilian eyes stared back at her summons, so the girl had a guardian huh. Had she taken a [Summon] or [Familiar]?
She shouldn't be able to use [Shadows], so was this the work of a friend of hers? So she was an interesting gall after all.
Good, this was good. She now could see why [The Prophet] wanted this girl, yes, she could use this. Maybe she would even be useful in her personal quest. A quest that needed an answer and the main reason she even entertained the orders from [The Prophet].
It was the main reason she helped her build this ridiculous cathedral within the [Soulscape] of [The Prophet].
But first, she needed to know if this girl had the answer to an important question. "Tell me, girl, does the name [Chloe Ashcroft] mean anything to you?" It was the name of someone who she had no memory of meeting.
And yet it resounded loud within her mind, no memories had come with it of course. Not like with [Framework] who she remembered having spoken with while at high school, at work...And of course, she even remembered when he [Triggered] his skill for the first time.
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The joy she had felt when he became a [Powered] and the sadness while she consoled him under the starry sky as his refusal letter came in the mail, and of course. The sadness when she found out he would join the army anyway.
But as for the name of that person? Nothing.
There wasn't even an empty spot in her memory, but she knew the name was important.
"...never heard of it in my life." The pink-haired girl answered, that was [A lie] she knew the name. But not the importance behind it.
No one she had asked knew of it, and those that she asked never uttered the name again. "Return" But she had a clue, so she ordered all the [Toys] she had sent to return from their mission. They had a new order.
"Hound this girl from afar, find what she knows." Sadly unlike what she did with most, she couldn't even send her [Toys] to her shadow, since that was already occupied by those...Reptiles? She wasn't sure what they were since the [Shadows] hid them.
"Interesting answer," But for now she had to tempt the girl so she would reveal her information. "[The World] is the [Idea Name] that the [God] of this world has. We aren't sure if there is a name on our local tongue. But [Idea] works well enough so we use that."
The girl wasn't surprised at the answer, and if she was...well then she was very good at concealing her emotions, "As far as we are aware [The World] is the reason [Odyssey] and [Framework] had to [Ascend], since [The Stygian Bane] seemed to want to encroach in the domain of [The World]."
The girl was still as if nothing, that...shouldn't be. In the realm of the soul one's emotions should be bare, that was why most of the council hid behind those cloaks.
It was why they feared [The Prophet] since she would hide her emotions even when her soul was bare. But the girl? She was acting as if nothing.
"So to answer your question, [The World] is this very [World] the [Planet], the people living on it. And [The System], what you desire is to [Kill] the planet. Or in a nutshell...you would need a [World Cracker], and even if you managed to get one..." She allowed her words to trail off.
The [Warlock] got the message and added "We [The Nine Stars] would stop you. We don't allow people to destroy our [World]." Not that the girl was a threat, she was what? 70 levels below to be a threat.
If she managed to climb to A rank she may be somewhat dangerous, but anything below S-Rank could forget about having enough power to destroy this planet.
And even at S-Rank, the only one she feared had enough power to do something as ridiculous as that was [The Juggernaut], and the other members of [The Nine] never disclosed much about that one. Neither name, nationality, or age.
"Then why is that one messing with Elizabeth?" Asked the pink-haired girl.
Messing with Elizabeth? She wanted to destroy the metaphysical representation of our planet because her friend was having a bad day?
"Don't know who that Elizabeth is, but she isn't special enough for [The World] to even look at her." This was ridiculous, she had gotten her hopes up for nothing.
"Oh right, now that you mention it. Eli-Eli's former name was Ashcroft." The pink-haired girl said smiling.
That was impossible, no one had that last name last time she checked. No one.
"Confirmed, formerly known as Elizabeth Ashcroft, daughter of Jack Ashcroft and Catherine Saintsworths. Currently registered as Elizabeth Starbright." Spoke one of the cloaked figures.
The voice was young and flat, if she was calm she may have picked out who had spoken, but as it was, she wasn't calm enough to care if it was a member of the council or the [Nine].
"And you say this girl was attacked by [The World]?" She would investigate that girl, the name didn't awaken any memory or instinct, but the name seemed important.
Even if it was...wrong.
Something wasn't right with it but she couldn't pick up what.
"I only used the [Artifact] for the time slow effect while I prepared my spells to heal her, but yes. She was attacked [In her soulscape]." The pink-haired girl seemed to have a penchant for impossible.
"No one can access their [Soulscape], not before A-Tier levels of magic power." The [Prophet] said with a frown on her face.
Only reason she could even do something like this was because of [The Traveler], she didn't have the patience to practice her magic after all.
From the [Nine Stars] only two or at best three should be able to enter their soulscape. And of those, none was [The Prophet], hell not even all of them were from the magic side.
So it was understandable the stance the [Prophet] was taking here, hell, she was able to [Perceive] it thanks to her particular skillset and thanks to [Ethan] for the [Taint] that made her survival instincts work overtime to purge the [Taint].
And here was a girl not even twenty years old saying an [Orphan] girl was attacked within her [Soulscape] this implied quite a few outrageous things.
First, it implied that this Elizabeth girl could dwell in her [Soulscape] when one of the most powerful mages couldn't.
Two, it implied that pink hair was there to see it happen or feel it happen. From what she was saying it implied that she also was able to dwell into the [Soulscape].
Or worse.
Three, it implied that either Elizabeth or Rossaline was able to pull one or another into the [Soulscape], kinda like how they arrived here, but without using a specific powerset.
That...that was one incredibly powerful skill to have especially at that low of a level, since it meant that it wasn't fully [Evolved]. That the [Skill] hadn't merged with their [Job].
That the skill could grow more.
"And you say that she was attacked by [The World]?" So I needed more information, "What proof do you have, how are you so sure?"
Rossaline for her part just smirked, "I don't need to prove myself to you. [Magic] is like that, we aren't as clear cut as [Skill] users." Tch.
"Even [Magic] must follow rules." Said [The Warlock], of course, he would. But it irked her to be defended by an Italian.
"...Are you saying that Elizabeth uses [Magic] and not [Magic Skills]?" Asked [The Prophet], undermining the whole thing.
"Of course, Elizabeth Starbright is a [Genius]. I keep repeating myself but no one listens." Rossaline said with a sigh, she knew the signs. The girl was lovestruck.
So her opinion of course was less accurate...Should she dispatch a [Toy] to monitor her?
No wait, of course!
"What [Specialty] does this Elizabeth hold?" At the question, the [Things] within the girl's shadow growled at her.
Their eyes shone with a dangerous glint only eclipsed by the glare the pink-haired girl threw her way.
"Why? You lot never cared about her before." Venom dripped from the words of the girl too. "And now you care? I will not allow you of all people to come near her. Only a [Healer] more with access to [Prana] will be allowed."
"I was not part of the talks you had before, I'm a new addition after all." And a temporary one at that, as soon as [The Prophet] got a suitable magical girl I would be kicked out of here, my work was done after all.
"Hmm...She is an Elementalist." Answered Rossaline and refused to elaborate.
But an Elementalist? "So she deals in [Shadow] magic too then?" The girl grumbled annoyed at that. "And [Light] too?"
"An Elementalist deals in multiple elements hag, but no... Elizabeth hasn't shown me any [Light] magic so I couldn't know. " ...Must...not...kill....the...girl.
"Elizabeth Starbright, reported to have used [Shadow], [Wind], [Fire], [Earth] and a variation of [Thunder] on her admission test...Capable of using an advanced variation of the [Shift] spell, haven't gotten conclusive evidence but it is suspected to be closer to a [Spell] than a [Magic Skill]." One of the cloaked figures spoke, she spoke in a low tone with an even cadence.
"Why do you know so much?" Asked [The Prophet] to the cloaked figure.
This figure put down her hood revealing her face, another of the members of [The Nine Stars]. "I was doing a favor to...someone... and so I had the information at the ready...I need to....leave... Apologies." And then she was gone in a flash of light
Leaving us to fourteen figures once more, "Why is [The Sniper] here? How many nonmages are in the [council]?" Asked Rossaline annoyed.
That was a fair point, she wasn't aware of [The Sniper] being a member of the [Council], what kind of [Skill] allowed her to join the group?
"That information is reliable?" Asked another of the hooded figures, she half expected another identity revelation. But this one was more sensible.
"[The Sniper] does not lie." Was the answer [The Elementalist] said, "But I find it hard to believe, it took me years to find a way to summon opposite elements, and I was able because my magic system permits it...But that girl summoned not one but two opposite elements at this young age? I find that intriguing...What kind of [Skill] allowed her to move to [Magic] so easily?"
...That was the question, wasn't it?
No wait, "Why do you think she was a [Powered]?" Shouldn't she be a mage?
Even I as a powered at the peak couldn't use magic as easily as some of those in the [Nine Stars], even with the mana manipulation and access to the outer parts of my own [Soulscape].
"If she was a [Mage] we would know of her, since we don't it only means she was outside of our observation group. Meaning, that she must have been a powered...The only other option would be..." The [Elementalist] let his words trail.
The other only option would be that she was part of the memory wipeout, but one that affected so many of us? And so profound?
"She was at the epicenter of the [Advent] and so most forgot about her, not me though...Never me." Rossaline said. "But that does not matter at the moment, will you help me F#ck over [The World] for attacking Elizabeth?"
And that was the crux of the matter, wasn't it?
The long answer would be...maybe... But at this point in time?
"No." [The Prophet] spoke, "We will not...Should you attempt it we will stop you under the blessing of [Odyssey] and [Framework]."
The words of [The Prophet] seemed to thrum with divine mana, everyone should be awed at that, clear evidence that she was the one closer to [Divinity].
Yet...
"[No, they will not]" The girl spoke with confidence as [Idea] brimmed into her words, "[They will help Elizabeth before you, this I can guarantee.]" And the impossible happened as the pink-haired girl was bathed in [Holy Prana], not from her or from this place. But from the outside.
And with that, the girl was whisked away from the place, before anyone could stop her, something that shouldn't be possible, as the owner of the place was definitely not done with her.
*crash*
"WHY?!?" And soon afterward flash of light after flash of light happened in quick succession as most of the remaining members of the council left "WHY ARE YOU MOVING NOW?!?"
As [The Prophet] continued trampling everything around her, "WHAT DO I NEED TO GET YOUR APROVAL?!?" The closest one to divinity screamed to the heavens but as always no one answered.
Not the ones she wanted anyway, [Angels]? Yes, she could summon, from other [gods] that is, from artificial ones made from [Belief].
Demons? More easily than even [The Warlock].
She was from a family that was bathed in blood from crimes from thousands of years to the present.
But actual honesty to god [Gods]?
No, [Framework] seemed to have innate distaste as his [Prana] burned her at the barest of contact.
[Odyssey] she was fickle at best of times, and while she had granted her [Divine Favor] it was limited to three and she could deny the favor without reason.
So, what made Elizabeth Starbright so special that Rossaline Singh would throw into the mud her opportunity for greatness?
So special that even the [Gods] would act in her favor so blatantly.
So special that she was able to use multiple conflicting elements...
So special that she felt as if she should know her, but had no memories of it?
Who was Elizabeth Starbright?