Alicia found herself bestowed with the privilege of boarding a sphereship—a miniature airborne vessel shaped like a sphere—which, unbeknownst to her, also awaited on the thoroughfare. Together with the Kagatsean branch of the Magisterium's practitioners, she was to fly to the upper reaches of Takamagahara city.
Alas, she had no choice but to leave the gaping stones of Wisesa and Izel; it was their turn to attend to the two wayward children who were still beset by trepidation and whimpering. Though a disquieting premonition shrouded her mind concerning the welfare of Tome and Kaito in the custody of those teenagers, Alicia had vowed to reunite with them once the matter concluded. Izel, too, had promised to consign the children with the Tamoanchanese enclave in the capital and had Wisesa fetch Alicia in the front of the office.
Alicia had already seen how people used to ride to the Upper City: the snake-shaped locomotive would hurtle forth until the tracks achieved perpendicularity. When it hit the rail barricade, the linkages between the carriages would disengage, fastening themselves to the vertical track, transforming them into an elevator machine. One by one, the carriages ascended to the "sky" in an orderly fashion, like a snake scaling a wall. But on the ceiling, near the train's portal to the outside realm, there was a distinct hatch, capacious enough for a sphereship, which opened automatically when Alicia's ship approached it.
It was only when the true sky unfurled did Alicia began to marvel.
Takamagahara, it transpired, assumed the form of a spiral, with the mountain serving as its epicentre.
Wherever the airborne vessel took her, almost every view Alicia passed resembled a spiral amalgamated from oddly shaped buildings, spires, towering trees, and at times, patterns on the walls. It seemed as though the cityscape was an illusion. A dirty psychedelic trick. Was it an illusion? How did the urban architects contrive to fabricate the spiral apparitions in this city so coherently?
Apart from the scenery that beguiled the senses, the upper part of the city did not differ much from its lower counterpart, save the soaring altitudes of its structures. While a profusion of small wooden abodes persisted, red and gold gabled skyscrapers dotted the metropolis. Occasionally, another gabled structure perched on them, surrounded by ponds, mini green or sand gardens. Crimson and ivory ropes strung on the poles bore talismanic scripts that valiantly resisted the whims of the wind. The sky was hectic with the roar of zeppelins and draconic aerial warships, probably patrolling the vast perimeter for any remnants of mujinos still at large.
Alicia, however, did not traverse above those lofty skyscrapers for long, and she began to wonder: would the Kagatsean branch of the Magisterium's office occupy the celestial realms, like Skycastle?
Such was not the case, unfortunately. The ship traced the leisure path of the train tracks before alighting upon a large courtyard with the heart of a spiral fountain, hemmed by a wide, sangria-hued gabled edifice. Just beneath the roof’s eaves was a symbolic owl clutching a scroll and katana. Izel’s confirmation held true; the Magisterium's bureau was literally before the train station. How convenient. Or disappointing.
The ship’s occupants could see that the office courtyard was quite bustling. In addition to the rows of young practitioners practising magic, a parking lot was harbouring a pair of engine carriages with unusual shapes—stalwart frames full of landscapes and herons’ paintings. Their gabled roofs mimicked the architecture of surrounding structures, upheld by four columns. No glass served as an obstruction for air to pass.
"Oh, come on," Henge exclaimed at the sight of the luxurious carriages and the scattering of guards that accompanied them.
"Whose carriages are those?" asked Alicia.
"That, Alicia-san, are the Meiyo-bako—fame boxes. Carriages designated for daimyos and ministers. Also for Her Imperial Highness, the Shogun."
"Och, so the shogun graced us a visit?"
"That's for sure. That one carriage over there has a gold rim. Definitely a shogun’s. The other one is most likely the defence minister's carriage."
"I... willnae face the shogun, will I?"
"Hmm," Henge mused momentarily. "When you say it like that it sounds like a funny play on words."
"And why is that?"
"Because the answer is yes and no."
"So, Kagatse has two shoguns at its helm?"
"Yes and no once more."
"I give up. Please enlighten me."
Henge let out a laugh. "I will be facing Shogun Dajō Daijin, the preeminent leader of Kagatse Bakufu, in both governance and military matters. But you, you will be facing Shōgun Mahōtsukai, the overseer of the Kagatsean branch of the Magisterium congregation and custodian of its magical activities."
"I gather there are Magisterium representatives from certain regions led by titled generals. Interesting!" Alicia leaned back in her seat. "Well, at least one of my objectives will be addressed. He's going to talk about my calling, isn't he?"
Henge furrowed his brow and then signalled the pilot for the descent. "I am but his aide, Alicia-sama. What is discussed will be revealed by the shogun himself."
Their aerial vessel gracefully descended into an open hatch at the rear facade of the building, seamlessly blending among the myriad rows of other sphereships. Like dignitaries, Alicia was escorted by the Magisterium practitioners to a gilded lift. Instead of climbing skywards, the lift plunged earthward, its illuminated sign heralding a subterranean depth of minus twenty.
Minus twenty. The underground headquarters. Her mate Gilmore might like this.
Upon exiting the lift, Alicia saw no hallways or rows of monotonous offices. Instead, there was only a glazed room featuring a dimly lit landscape with bluish flickers. Ninshu practitioners were jumping to and fro inside, along with giant toads and swooping tengu herons—an advanced Nninshu training facility. In the room's core were seated several people in suits of armour or Kagatsean-style dresses with captivating collars. But it was their headwear that demanded attention—a kabuto helmet fashioned in a semblance of a spiral.
I dinnae think I've ever met anyone who loves spirals as much as the Kagatseans, Alicia mused.
A gentleman in a pale green suit, positioned at the centre of the table with his back to Alicia, appeared engrossed in signing a stack of documents. His lengthy hair was slicked back. The fan and grasshopper embroidered on the rear of his armour bespoke his clan affiliation. The armour protected his torso, wrists, and legs, but what caught the lass' attention was the three pairs of navy blue sheathed katanas on each hip. When the clatter of feet echoed, he slammed his writing utensil upon the desk.
"Permission to withdraw, Alicia-san. Dajō Daijin should not be kept waiting."
As Henge and his men retracted their steps into the lift, the man who had thus far concealed his countenance began to let out his voice in the common tongue, "Do you understand the purpose of your summons?"
The gentleman turned around. There was his baby face full of budding facial hair.
To think of the highest office in this local congregation, Alicia could not help but reflect on Grand Magus Lachlan Haddock, the Magisterium’s paramount head. However, the gaze of this gentleman lacked the warm characteristic of the Grand Magus'. It was grim, in fact. Alicia tried to hide the shudder in the back of her neck and bowed. "Greetings, Lord General... Magus. It appears the gatekeeper has revealed our existence. However, I am grateful for the privilege of yer reception."
Yet, the shogun remained unswayed by Alicia's courtesy. "Prove it to us," he ordered curtly.
"Pardon me, General Magus?"
"Prove to us that you are Alicia Crimsonmane."
Alicia bowed again. "With all due respect, General Magus—"
"I'm not asking you to bow. I'm asking you to prove yourself to us."
"The documents that have been recorded should already show my picture. But I’m more than willing to present my documents again—"
"We don't care about your picture," the shogun cut in again with a huff. His fingers did not stop twitching in the crevices of his armpits. "Looks and names are of no importance in Kagatse. We can all change our faces and names easily if we want to."
The shogun's right hand hovered over one of the katanas. Alicia did not interpret the tremor in his hand as hesitancy. It was thirst. "I have enough work here, and I'm not in the humour to spare an impostor who wastes my time," the shogun added. His finger was already pressing against the katana’s hilt, revealing its metallic sheen.
The Magisterium office should have been her safe zone. However, Alicia's little heart seemed determined not to trust anyone in Kagatse. But with a slight sense of compulsion, Alicia opened her waist bag, from whence emanated a buzzing aura of blue energy. A senior Magisterium member rose from his seat. When Alicia reached into the bag, Orb emerged, circling its wielder's head before hovering in her palm. Except for the shogun, the associates stood there with expressions fraught with tension, reluctance creeping into their chests. They pressed against the backs of chairs, their eyes wide, their linked lips throbbing. Witnessing the presence of the Divine Grace according to their disposition was akin to witnessing the world's demise. The shogun's face was seemingly unmoved even though it looked forced.
One of the Magisterium officials, wearing a spiral-shaped kabuto, shook his head at the shogun. Alicia looked at that and spoke once more, "Wait, it's really me, Alicia Crimsonmane! What more proof do you want?"
"No. This suffices. They're just panicking. They always did when they saw Arcane. Even more panicked now because of the circumstances."
"I understand, General Magus," Alicia said. "I've faced mujinos with my Arcane during my journey here."
The shogun nodded deliberately. "And the guard said your permission documents are made in Lojitengara. That means you are not sent by the Central Magisterium to help us."
"No, I am not. Instead, I'm here to ask the Kagatsean Magisterium for help in contacting the central Magisterium in Camelot. I wish for the General Magus to send a missive to Grand Magus Lachlan Haddock!"
"A missive that you are under our care now?"
Alicia stood momentarily stupefied. Her hand beckoned for Orb to go back into the bag. "He must have given a mandate to all Magisterium agencies to look for me, hasn’t he?"
"I know the Grand Magus," the shogun replied. "When I received the message directly from him, his tenor deviated from the usual—someone who speaks freely and unburdened. He was rather paranoid, I'd say."
Alicia was not sure if she should feel guilty about hearing that or not. After all, had she not disappeared, she probably would have disappeared for good. "Therefore, I beg you to reach out to him as soon as possible! Oh, and tell him that I have brought a child of Nostradame's prophecy!"
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"That's it? Might as well wait for the arrival of the Magisterium's elite magi."
"But they’ll stay for long, will they not?"
Eyes shut, the shogun massaged the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe you have to meet me here just for that." After a sigh, he added, "After some chores, I will contact the Grand Magus immediately."
"I thank you," Alicia bowed once more. "I only require General Magus to report on my situation. There's no need to ask him to rush and dispatch someone to get me."
"Why not? You're not thinking of taking a vacation here, are you? Under these circumstances?"
"Of course not, General Magus. I understand the situation here. It may not be much, but I would like to volunteer to help you fight the mujinos."
"You what—"
The sudden humming of the lift interrupted their discourse, and a cacophony could be heard beyond its doors. As the lift revealed itself, not only were Henge and his men dwindling in number, but three new people replaced the void left by his men. A woman of all-alabaster skin and hair, donned a vivid blue kimono and a loose purple haori robe. Another wore glasses and his eyes were red-rimmed. He looked like a priest judging by his long eboshi hat and the presence of prayer beads, necklaces, and bracelets. The last figure appeared more fierce, more advanced in years. Some of his hair was missing, and his dress was similar to that of the Kagatsean soldiers, with more accessories on his armour larger than the others. There Henge seemed to be pleading, countered promptly by a fan from the priest.
A woman in a kimono did not heed the aide's request. She walked straight to Alicia without any assistance.
"Henge," beckoned the shogun. "Dajō Daijin-sama to taimen suru sekinin ga aru to omotte ita noni. "
Henge's posture straightened at the sight of the shogun's exasperated gaze. "Hai, Shōgun-sama, desu ga, Dajō Daijin-sama wa—"
"Dajō Daijin?" Alicia saw one of the three figures. A woman as tall as Alicia with her eyes closed. The leader of the country. The Blind Shogun, as told by Kaito and Izel. The lass immediately inclined her head. "Your Imperial Highness Dajō Daijin!" she exclaimed.
"Hashomon-dono...," came the soft voice of the sightless lady. The subsequent utterance transitioned into the common tongue. "And the others. Let us speak in common tongue to avoid confusion for our guest of honour." She addressed Alicia, "Raise, Alicia Crimsonmane."
When Alicia looked up, the shogun's face was already close as she slightly perked up her ears, moving gracefully up and down, scrutinising the bespectacled lass with her hearing. However, Alicia's eyes were mesmerised by her sweet knot of a smile.
"Your Imperial Highness... you know my name?" Alicia asked hesitantly.
"Nanda—" the General Magus muttered before being swiftly replaced with a cough. His reclining posture on the table became upright. "Dajō Daijin-sama. With all due respect. What is lacking in representation from Henge that you had to come down here?"
The person in question stepped back a little.
"No faults lie with Henge, Hashomon-dono. Your right hand performed admirably, as always," Dajō Daijin replied, to which Henge exhaled a sigh of relief. "My ears have been itching with something too interesting within your office."
"If Dajō Daijin-sama is listening, then you should know nothing is interesting about this conversation," replied Magic Shogun.
"Oh, there is always something interesting about having a conversation with a newcomer. However, what intrigued me most was the other voice accompanying her."
There was only one voice that possessed the capacity to draw attention, in Alicia's opinion. Now she perceived no benefit in hiding her ball mate any longer.
"Dajō Daijin-sama wishes to convey how that unique voice has the same aura found in the equipment of the Magisterium's elite wizards," added a young man wearing a long hat.
Alicia's focus fixed on the man. "You... who?"
"Correct. We have yet to be formally introduced. My apologies for our lapse in etiquette." The magic shogun rested a hand on his chest. "I am Kamakuken Hashomon, shogun of the Kagatsean branch of the Magisterium." The shogun's palm gestured towards the three newcomers in succession. "The woman next to you is the head of state of Kagatse. Her Imperial Highness Dajō Daijin, Yūsha Mōmoku, Yotsuba Setsuko. The man in the clerical attire is Toyoshige Domen, the Seishu, the supreme head priest of the Rikaiha religion of all Kagatse."
"Greetings, Alicia-sama," bowed the man named Domen. Alicia reciprocated the gesture.
"While the gentleman on the left is Hokutoji Taro, Kagatsean's minister of defence."
The middle-aged man named Taro lowered his head slightly without saying a word.
Without warning, the blind shogun named Setsuko gently intercepted Alicia’s two hands encased in silk gloves. Alicia flinched.
"So you are the miracle lady?" Setsuko declared. Her voice was velvety, but her expression was radiating excitement. "The one with the Arcane beyond the will of the Eternal Empire? Who thwarted the undead giant in Eidyn? Who became the second to defeat Bakunawa and stop the civil war in the state of Alas Purwo?"
"I-I—"
"No need to explain," Setsuko snapped. "I heard a lot of things about you. You were likely the only one who managed to make me envious of not being able to witness the Moon Eater's form in the sky when others could and how you vanquished it with Arcane might!”
"Dajō Daijin-sama, I believe you have no reason to envy," the voice came from the mouth of Hokutoji Taro, the minister of defence. "The flashes of light from the Moon Eater blinded us too during the extermination operation."
The man's face was as unfriendly as Hashomon's so the sting of guilt stabbed Alicia again. "I didnae mean to... S-sorry—"
"Alicia-san need not take this old man's words to heart," said the person to the left of Dajō Daijin, Toyoshige Domen, which was met by the minister's sardonic gaze.
Alicia instinctively held Orb and her glasses projected an interface. She initiated a scan on Setsuko, as her countenance was the closest among the others.
POSSIBLE PRACTITIONER DETECTED {Faces here} RANK: SUPERIOREM MEDIANUS II POSSIBLE MYSTIC ART: ART OF NINSHU
Superiorem Medianus II? Her looks deceived me, Alicia thought, manifesting with her head jerking back slightly. No wonder this young woman was a shogun. She looked about Alicia's age, even, though that might, again, be a deception by her frail stature and smooth, well-groomed face. If she rose another three levels, Senes II, she could be the equal of Ki Semar, one of the most powerful living shamans she had ever known.
Alicia then turned to the minister of defence, Hokutoji Taro. His grim face made it impossible for her to look at him for long.
POSSIBLE PRACTITIONER DETECTED {Faces here} RANK: MEDIANUS III POSSIBLE MYSTIC ART: ART OF NINSHU
The same as Wisesa. But Medianus' level was that of an average practitioner of high standing.
Alicia turned to the last person, the Seishu, Toyoshige Domen.
DETECTION FAILED: NOT A PRACTITIONER {Faces here} RANK: Null POSSIBLE MYSTIC ART: Null
The high priest is... a Magicless?
At first, Alicia mused that a religious leader whose devotion centred on cultivation should have, at the very least, mastered basic cultivation techniques. A unique case, according to Alicia. No, not unique. Memorable. More memorable than a blind shogun possessing extraordinary magic, for there was a certain resonance with her having a background as a Magicless.
Again, without the bookworm’s consent, the shogun's delicate fingers suddenly slipped inside Alicia's gloves, brushing her skin. A mix of shock and a subdued sigh escaped the bespectacled lass' lips.
"There's a wound on your hand, and it's shaped strangely," Shogun Setsuko remarked.
"Y-Your Imperial Highness Shogun! Please dinnae touch my wound!" pleaded Alicia, her face warming to the tips of her ears.
"I'm sorry," Alicia’s hand slipped from Setsuko's smooth caress. "Does it hurt?"
"It d-doesn't... but it's quite sensitive."
Following the unusual introduction, the Dajō Daijin initiated a dialogue. "So, I heard the conversation that Alicia-san wishes to volunteer to help us fight mujinos.”
"I can assist you with the Arcane might of Orb," Alicia reassured.
Gasps and objections filled the air among those who comprehended the common tongue. Shogun Hashomon's bitter grin widened by half. He regretted pressing for a follow-up question, "That’s it?" He should have just called the Grand Magus and sent the lass back to her homeland.
"No. That's not allowed!" The thick eyebrows of Taro dipped sharply.
"Wait!" Alicia was taken aback by their demands. "I understand. Arcane causes mujinos to evolve. But at the same time, mujinos are absolute vulnerable when exposed to Arcane. Isn't that the case? I've defeated them before!"
"The numbers and types you fought along the way were nothing compared to when the real wave came!" the minister retorted. "We've already faced them with the Arcane gifted from the Eternal Empire. The results were disastrous. Our country was almost completely overrun by mujinos. And while we managed to survive, all of the Magisterium's elite mages died. And thousands more." the minister then looked at the shoguns. "I must refuse the presence of another Arcane wielder here. Hashomon-sama, I request to return her to her home country."
"The Arcane's presence these days is indeed disastrous," the Dajō Daijin added, the sleeves of her haori robe drawn together. "That is why we asked the Central Magisterium not to include Arcane in any form in its magic warriors. It's not like facing a bunch of practitioners with black magic. And mujinos evolving in large numbers is too difficult a task for us."
"What Mujinos have you fought?" Taro asked back to Alicia.
"Uhm, I've faced bird-like but beakless mujinos, then eyeless dogs, and slime-shaped ones."
"Gothhotroo, Binxtrunach, and Zalos. And you must have seen them evolve, right? Now imagine their numbers ten thousand times over. Imagine a thousand Zalos evolved and crammed into a city. That's just three types of mujinos."
Alicia reconsidered the past events. Gothhotroo, the Bird Mujino that turned into a blade was indeed dangerous. Binxtrunach who fired rifles and took cover from shields could undoubtedly turn any land into a battlefield. And the thousands of Zalos that amalgamated into a colossal galactic expansion capable of devouring an entire city. Alicia recollected that all her battles were arduous; the side effects that Kaito had endured were also laborious to heal. The emphasis on having only confronted three types of peculiar monsters did not bring her any solace.
However, it was because of the remembrance of Kaito and Tome's distress that Alicia chose to remain stubborn. "Perhaps I dinnae have to fight them. I can help in other ways. Investigating their origins and how to stop the wave once and for all, for example."
The minister was speechless. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head in the other direction. Frustrated. Hashomon was considerate enough to voice the minister's grievances. "No slight intended, but if I were in charge of you, I'd probably be equally dismissive of my enemy," he said. "We barely got anything on these mujinos. We can't do autopsies because the traces of their corpses vanish upon death. What makes you feel more than the other investigators?"
"Me and Orb might be able to find something!" Alicia assured once again.
"It is impossible!" the magic shogun asserted.
Alicia fell into a contemplative silence. People's perceptions of Arcane these days were something she did not expect. Some rejected it. Some wanted to destroy it. Alicia, at least, retained the determination to persuade them of her strongest magical power. But apparently, the despair on the faces of the Kagatsean officials was unmistakable. Arcane did not provide salvation here.
All were despondent, except for the priest.
"Maybe it is possible," Toyoshige Domen suggested.
Defence Minister Taro gave him a quizzical look. "Aa, iie, Seishu-sama, mata desu ka...!"
"Maybe we can," Domen reiterated. His head inclined to the Blind Shogun's ear. "Dajō Daijin-dono. I assume the meeting of you and Alicia-sama is not a coincidence. It is an inspiration. An inspiration from the Enlightened Ones to harness Arcane once more. As Dajō Daijin-dono said, this girl's Arcane is unique."
"Don't bring false enlightenment during a definite war like this!"
The priest's countenance did not betray any offence. In fact, it lit up even more. "Enlightenment is never false. Inspiration is a blessing, Taro-dono. But it is only obtained when one gives oneself over to seeking it."
"Is that so? Just like that fanatic group you never took care of? The ones that unsettle the population by painting themselves and looking for prophets and delusional enlightenment in the middle of streets and doorways?"
"Be careful, Taro-dono. The Enlightened Ones may be forced to win you over from the battle just because the poor like them still have faith."
Taro scoffed once more. "It is not their meditation that wins battles. It's the strategy, labor, and sacrifice of the soldiers on the front lines! Inspiration comes with facts. If you wish to talk about enlightenment, I can obtain it by utilizing my abilities to protect the people. That's in your religious teachings, right?"
The minister then thrust himself into the Dajō Daijin's ear as well, "We have learnt from the facts, Dajō Daijin-sama. The Battle of Onogoro was our worst and most bitter. The blinding event two waves ago was almost fatal, too. Surely we do not want a repeat of that, do we?"
Domen again assumed the role of a devil's advocate. "Dajō Daijin-dono, I believe Dajō Daijin-dono heard Alicia-sama's entire conversation with Shogun Mahotsukai. I heard the facts about Alicia-sama as well. Are we really going to let her go, when she has volunteered herself? She who cancelled the undead attack in faraway Camelot? She who stopped the civil war conflict in Lojitengara? She who annihilated the Atama no Tsuki, which centuries ago negated the family tree of the old shogunate, and left Kagatse in chaos due to a power struggle by the commoners? Victory at the Battle of Onogoro cannot help but be seen as a miracle. We can have another miracle." Domen's hand was slightly thrust towards the woman with glasses. "She is the Child of Miracles. Kiseki no Ko. Our precious Kiseko."
Alicia had been attentive to the persuasions between the two officials. While Toyoshige Domen and Nakamura Taro whispered in each of the ears of the country's most respected young woman, the Blind Shogun remained frozen, her mouth clenched into a straight line. []