Beneath the Berendin Manor, deep in the Spire’s Record Rooms…
Beyond all the books, files, and digital storage was one chamber accessible only to those with the highest security clearance.
The Magi’s Chronograph towered seven floors high: a testament of the Seers’ cumulative knowledge of science, magic, and the cosmos.
Its form and complexity changed over the eras, but its purpose remained the same: to record, preserve, and manage the visions of a Seer.
Two of such Seers sat before a console, connected to the device via a visor. Papyrus’ job was to monitor a specific vision: the mass evacuation of Lemuria.
As of now, it’s a distant, faded playback of an event that might not happen: a mere possibility. When would it become a definite future? Only Papyrus had the instincts to sense this shift.
Meanwhile, he observed Frisk’s trial via a small sidescreen. Papyrus became the topic of the battle. Hearing others talk about him in such a manner… discomforted him more than the loops of chaos.
“Is this too much for you?” asked Lucidia.
“NO. MAYBE.” Papyrus tried to sound mature for her sake.
The experienced Seer knew better. “I apologize in my husband’s stead. Perhaps it would be better if you focus on Lemuria?”
“IT’S ALRIGHT. I HAVE TO KNOW.”
“I see…”
Papyrus told himself again and again that Mezil had to act scary for his job. It’s just another facet of this man. A dark one, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a good friend.
Still… his actions struck fear into Papyrus’ heart.
The youngster asked, “WERE ALL THE EXAMS THIS HARSH?”
“Depends.” Lucidia replied. “My husband is a fair man. He tailors the test according to the candidate’s personality and experience. With that said, Frisk is definitely on the severe end.”
They remained silent to focus on the Trial of the Crimson Hall again.
Frisk got on their feet. Avoided every blow.
Mezil raised the stakes by slicing apart the hall itself.
Then the man lifted the child up by the collar. In the midst of their struggle, Frisk kicked Mezil in the gut.
The small screen vanished. At that point… Papyrus felt his vision shift.
The sounds became crystal clear, down to the waves crashing against the docks. People sobbed. Panicked. Filled with fear as they fled from their homes.
The Sun’s scorching rays shone down on his bones. He could feel the humid heat in the air despite being a skeleton. It’s different compared to Hotland.
Was this the fabled ‘Summer’?
Papyrus now must trace back this reality to the ‘possibility’ that would bring about this horrible outcome.
Focus. Concentrate. Leap into the unknown. Run beyond the fog of doom.
When he told himself to do so, his sights distorted into a raw mess of red and black.
Faster. Further. Don’t stop. Reach the goal.
At the very end… Papyrus found his answer.
Underneath the shine of stained glass, humanity’s greatest warrior had vanquished The Vampire of Time.
It’s a classic stab through the heart. In doing so, a massive red bolt of lightning shattered the Magus’ existence.
Papyrus watched his future friend fall face first on the ground. A pool of blood spread beneath the corpse.
Mezil still had black hair back then.
With the Keys of Fate now in his hand, the Persona marched forth to conquer the world.
“Papyrus!”
He woke up to the concerned urgings of the Fairy Godmother - the Chronograph’s visor removed. He’s lying down on the polished ground.
It’s dark. The room’s all black except for the faint glow of Lucidia’s magic and the distant emergency lights.
“Are you alright, Papyrus?” She asked. “Any headaches? Nausea? Confusion? A sudden cut from the Chronograph may cause temporary disorientation.”
“A SUDDEN CUT?” He blinked in confusion. “I DIDN’T FEEL A DISCONNECT? WHEN FRISK KICKED MISTER MAGUS, THE MINI SCREEN DISAPPEARED. BUT THEN THE VISION BECAME REAL.”
“Oh? That means you managed to maintain your vision despite the power failure. Your natural endurance is quite a boon.”
The facility lost electricity right when Frisk did the kick. Papyrus pushed himself off the ground as soon as possible.
“LADY LUCIDIA, MISTER MAGUS IS IN DANGER! THIS BLACKOUT IS THE START OF A WHOLE LOT OF BADNESS!!!”
“Huh?”
“I APOLOGIZE FOR THE AWKWARD, BUT THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY.”
The sense of urgency prompted Papyrus to sweep Lucidia off the ground, princess style.
Papyrus could feel his Eye shine involuntarily. It’s feeding him information for the best escape, except he’s not familiar with the term.
“WHERE’S THIS THING CALLED ‘THE FIRE EXIT’?”
Lucidia’s sockets widened. “East side, up ahead. Follow my magic and we’ll arrive there.”
Papyrus followed her guidance. Used a bit of telekinesis to push open the door.
Choking scents of acrid smoke filled the air: it’s a telltale sign of a fire. The boom of an explosion echoed throughout the structure. Papyrus felt the grounds and walls quiver.
Lucidia closed her eyes, drawing upon her years of experience. “Papyrus, we are in a dire situation. Gungnir has successfully infiltrated the facility. The lack of power suggests that electrical faults are the cause of this blaze. Sabotage of the water supply for the sprinklers is also a hundred percent guaranteed.”
“If we don’t extinguish the fire, the entire Spire may collapse from structural failure. We’re fitted with proper fireproofing supports but… the enemy has a long history of cunning exploits. I must assume the worst.”
A grim situation indeed. Papyrus frowned. “I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY FOR AN EMERGENCY.”
“There is one,” said Lucidia. “My home has an evacuation system connected to a backup generator, but it will mean abandoning the rest of The Spire. Once I activate the clause, the core components of the Chronograph will detach from the main building and take flight along with the Berendin Manor. Anyone who’s stranded on the floors farthest from us will be left behind. Since time is short, we must ‘prioritize’.”
“WHY?! WE CAN’T JUST LEAVE EVERYONE! WHAT ABOUT MISTER MAGUS? MISS AUNT?? FRISK???” he exclaimed. Naive he may be, but Lucidia’s manner of speech made the point as clear as day.
The woman tensed in his grip. Her kind heart didn’t want such an outcome either. “Grandpa, the Grandmaster, is in the manor right now. He’s the heart of the Magus Association. If his continued existence turns from true to false, the chances of recovery will be almost nil.”
“As for those in the Crimson Hall: they’re safe. I can reconstruct a new Spirit Gate elsewhere.”
“…But I will not make the evacuation call yet,” said Lucidia. “You have the gift of prophecy. If you see a possibility to save our current establishment, please show us the way.”
Anxiety and fear weighed down on Papyrus’ shoulders. The lives of hundreds -- if not millions down the road -- now rest on his decisions.
Who knows how many were cornered by the flames, slowly dying of a cruel and painful death?
How many more would he condemn to such a fate if he wasn’t competent enough?
What if he made the worst decision of all and contributed to the fall of the Magi?
WHAT IF I FAIL THIS?
That was his thought.
NO.
I WILL FEAR, BUT I WILL NOT YIELD. BE BRAVE!
Papyrus put all his power into his Eye: to search for the golden path where the most lives could be saved. All his training points to times like these.
To his surprise, he did not see a cunning plan executed by his solo handsome self.
He instead witnessed the arrival of an unlikely team. A hot pink robot with jet wings flew towards The Spire with a car over his head. The strongest fish and the calmest fire occupied the front seats.
Papyrus squealed out of delight.
“Pardon me?” Lucidia exclaimed, perplexed by the positivity.
“I HAVE FRIENDS!!!” he yelled with utmost hope. “WE CAN SAVE THE PEOPLE AND THIS FANCY BUILDING AT THE SAME TIME!”
“I see. You said, friends? Which friends?”
“THE STRONGEST OF COURSE!!”
* * *
Undyne peeked out of her window. Locked traffic meant no ambulance or firetrucks could answer the call for help. Without flight, they’re about as stuck as everyone else.
Meanwhile, fire threatened to become a permanent resident of the Magus Association headquarters.
It’s a scene a little too close to home.
She said, “The next time someone tells me anime isn’t real, I’m gonna punch them in the face.”
“…I hope you meant that figuratively…” Grillby replied.
“At this rate, I don’t know. Reality is imitating fiction a bit TOO much.”
An explosion erupted from one of higher floors. The boom was much louder than Undyne ever expected.
“Like now.” She cringed.
Mettaton chose to land at the main entrance of the headquarters. The humans vacated from that spot. They weren’t sure if they could withstand the full blast of those pink magical jet streams.
He placed down the car. Undyne and Grillby hopped out of their seats to assess the situation.
Both sides stared at each other, clearly uncomfortable.
Nudging her elbow at the glambot, she said: “C’mon Mettaton, suss them or something.”
“Oh. I-I’m right on it.” He cleared his throat and straightened his back. “Hello darlings! The fabulous Mettaton and his team of wonderful beauties are here to help. May one of you precious folks explain us the situation?”
The surprised crowd stirred. The more hysterical ones tossed themselves at the monsters’ feet, begging for their legendary powers. Those had to be wrestled away by the calmer members of the Magi.
“Mister Mettaton! You’re really going to help us?!”
“Can he really do that?”
“Is that a cool battle body upgrade?!”
“The Suplex Queen is here too!”
“My friend’s still trapped inside!”
“Save us!”
A woman in a neat black suit approached them. Undyne recognized her as a member of Frisk’s bodyguard squad.
The lady explained, “Monsters of Ebott, someone sabotaged both our power and water supply. This includes the backup system.”
Talk about a crisis. Undyne asked, “Any casualties?”
“Unknown at the moment. We’re fortunate that it’s a Sunday, meaning most of the staff is absent. But many boarding students and visitors remain on the premises.”
“All the active Crafters had gone ahead to search for the sabotage point. Healers are trying to treat the injured here while we wait for air support.”
She guessed that’s Magus talk for ‘technicians’ and ‘medics’ respectively.
Undyne looked at towering building before her.
There were at least thirty floors on fire, if not more.
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The traffic gridlock made it all the worse. Nobody could get in to fight the flames. Nobody could get out for help.
It’ll take a while for helicopters to arrive. They may bring some fire-fighting equipment or carry off the casualties, but then what? By then the flames would spread to goodness knows where.
Her mind raced to think of a plan. Be damned if she’ll just sit around as a helpless gasping fish.
“Mettaton, take out all your Minis and call Alphys! Help the tech dudes fix their damn water!”
“Roger that, darling~” The pink glambot summoned his entire stock of Mini Mettatons. He passed three of them into Undyne’s arms.
“Huh?” she blurted.
“Sweetheart, what’s with the confused face? Communications shine best in a crisis.”
In her heart, Undyne thought: Of course I know that. Didn’t expect that amount of common sense coming from you, though.
After a quick wink, Mettaton asked for directions to assist the tech team. He jet-setted to the west side of the Spire’s grounds.
She turned her attention back to the guard and said: “We’re gonna go in and save the kids. I’ll clear the debris and try to extinguish the fires with my spears. Anyone who wants to join can follow me.”
The woman nodded. “Agreed.”
For some reason, Grillby ditched his armour. He just tossed them into the car’s back seat posthaste. He’s now in his basic pants and tunic.
Then he removed his glasses and stored them in the dashboard drawer.
It’s ultra serious business.
“…Stay here…” The ex-Captain then ran straight towards the lobby. Roaring flames spewed through the broken windows and thick black smoke obscured its intensity.
He’ll be fine, right? He’s a man made out of fire after all. But why did he ask them to stay?
The inferno began to pull inwards. It didn’t travel, nor retreated voluntarily. The flames clawed, kicked, and screamed against their will as they’re dragged away by force.
A very poetic, anime-like description… and also the truth. In a few seconds, an entire section of the lobby was freed of destructive combustion.
She doesn’t recognize the person who just emerged from the building.
“…Stand back…”
In one swift uppercut, Grillby released all his captured flames into the open air. Fire without fuel will vanish in mere seconds.
Everyone gawked in awe.
“…Please hurry.…” he said. “…The flames will spread again… if we delay too long…”
It took Undyne three full seconds to grasp reality.
“Grillbz,” she asked, “What the fuck are you?”
He blinked twice. “…Just a simple bartender…”
“Yeah right, Sir ex-Captain.”
He sure as hell doesn’t fit the image behind a grease establishment.
* * *
When Grillby was a young flame, he didn’t know much about the war days. Whatever he learned about the monster’s past came from the school syllabus.
Monsters, weak.
Humans, strong.
They lost the war and were thus sealed under the mountain.
His elders taught him the art of sparring and their kind’s magic. But that’s just about it.
Gaster then offered his family’s private library. They’re filled with ‘controversial’ knowledge that’s best kept out of monster eyes. The Seer’s parents gathered, recorded, and preserved knowledge exclusive to humans: from their military tactics to their politics, to the testimonies of adventurers who once fought monsters.
It was only then that Grillby gained a glimpse into a different side of history: one where Monsters were feared far and wide for feats that the magic-folk considered mundane.
The ancients sang ballads of terror about the ‘Fire Eaters’, elementals who consumed infernos to bolster their strength.
Some the details were rather hyperbolic. But, in application… they were right.
Grillby heard cries for help behind a corridor. It’s possible that all exit paths had collapsed, threatening to bake the victims alive.
He reached his hand out towards the rubble, tearing the flames away from their source. It left behind embers that were subsequently quenched by Undyne’s water spears.
The residual heat would bog down anyone in metal armour. Undyne had long ditched them for some more fire-appropriate gear like a gas mask and gloves.
That fish lady had cleared the way at record speeds. Smashed the bigger pieces, tossed aside the smaller ones, and kicked away whatever’s left behind.
…Impressive…
For someone who really, really dislikes heat, she’s holding her own quite well.
…So Determined…
…Is this… because of Gaster’s training?…
A huge puff of smoke then burped out from their latest conquest.
She coughed twice. “God, that’s nasty even with the mask.”
“…Agreed… …Let us carry on…”
The man of fire led the charge. He wrestled and captured every one of those untamed forces of destruction.
They don’t belong here. Don’t live here.
They should stay within the confines of heaters and the stove.
Nowhere else.
As with all captures, there will be resistance. Every flame imprisoned threatened to escape. This was of no issue in the battlefield where their untamed wanton demanded exploitation.
In a rescue situation however… Grillby hated to imagine the aftermath of an uncontrolled explosion. He could worsen the crisis, or inflict severe burns on anyone nearby.
He paused to witness the results of his efforts. Undyne and the human volunteers directed the evacuees to a safe place without a problem.
For now, he’s fortunate enough to stand near a window. He punched the glass. The erupting blast smashed it without issue.
Grillby sighed in relief. He’s in the clear now. But, what about the times when he’ll have no convenient outlets?
To make matters worse, it had been ages since he needed to call upon such intensive use of magic.
…I’m out of practice…
…I don’t know… how long I can keep this up…
…Determination… only goes so far…
“You okay, Grillbz?”
It’s Undyne. She’s giving him a concerned look.
Grillby wanted to answer that he’s fine, but a slight wobble let the cat out of the bag.
“Dude, how much does that magic tax you anyway?! You’re pushing yourself too hard!”
“…There’s no time for breaks…”
The haunted image of that burnt child refused to let him rest. He wouldn’t want anyone in this building to suffer the same fate.
“Yeah, but if you K.O. now I’ll have even MORE problems!”
Undyne does have a point. If he collapses now, he would have to join the evacuees.
So she suggested: “I can extinguish the smaller ones with my spears. You just concentrate on the big stuff. Okay?”
“…Alright…”
The two pressed on.
* * *
The Princess of the Sky did not fly because she was light. Rather, she manipulated the laws of physics to her will.
Force. Matter. Pressure.
What she lacked in power was backed up with knowledge.
Lucidia pushed the combination of her magic to smother the flames. She either pulled combustible gasses away from the fuel, or forced a bubble of limited air around them. Whichever method used, it ended in deoxygenation.
In addition to that, she had to push away smoke and excessive heat. She now understood why Papyrus insisted on carrying her on the way. It would take too much multitasking processes to move and focus on her magic at the same time.
The young Seer used his Blasters to destroy any fallen debris that got in the way. Thanks to his Orange Eye, they could prioritize on saving lives, skipping empty offices and other such non-vital areas.
If they found anyone, Lucidia would plant a gram that allowed humans to see one of her secret pathways and use them once. She’d then direct them to the nearest fire exit.
Dear departed Uncle James was an architect: he’d think ahead about fire hazard.
Papyrus heard the cries of help from a broom closet. He tried to force the locks with telekinesis, but it failed.
“OH NO! THE DOOR JAMMED!”
He’s about to fire his blasters, but Lucidia stopped him. “Save your strength, young one. I can handle this.”
The lock mechanisms had expanded from the heat, making them jam against each other. The only way get get this thing open on short notice was to crush the root of the problem.
Lucidia slipped in a small orb of condensed gravity magic into the keyhole. The interiors immediately collapsed under its sheer weight, popping and snapping until the rest of the door was freed of its restraints.
The four humans inside were stunned to see the appearance of two skeletons.
“AAAH!! Skeletons!”
“Are we dead…?”
“OF COURSE NOT!” Papyrus answered with an irritated frown. “WE DIDN’T COME ALL THE WAY HERE TO PLAY DEATH.”
Lucidia cleared her throat to catch their attention. “Please allow me to send you through a portal to safety.”
The humans recognized her voice. “Lady Lucidia?”
“Is that how you look like under the mask? It’s not very different. Which is good! You’re very pretty.”
The compliments made her blush purple. “Thank you, but this is not the time for that.”
She planted the Gram and sent them on their way.
“Run to the fire exit and look for a distortion on the wall to your right. Whatever you do, enter it in a line. Hurry.”
The humans thanked her and rushed to the nearest exit.
Another explosion went off over their heads. Pieces of the ceiling collapsed around them. Fortunately for Lucidia, Papyrus had mastered the footwork of dodging.
“The fire is eating through the outer layers…”
By now, she had noticed a pattern. “I believe the Gungnir have rigged specific locations with combustibles. They will explode when touched by flames, and thus perpetuating the destruction. Should we remove them to prevent further harm?”
Papyrus checked the future. He then frowned. “IT’S A GOOD PLAN, BUT I’M AFRAID THAT WAS THE LAST ONE. THEY RAN OUT OF MATERIALS.”
Cheering up a bit, he added: “AT LEAST WE DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE DANGEROUS TIMED JAPES FOR A WHILE.”
Contrary to his lighthearted metaphors, there’s a grim severity on Papyrus’ face.
“I’m worried about Cenna,” said Lucidia. “It’s possible she met The Seraphim. Survival: uncertain.”
“MISS AUNT IS FINE. SHE’S A SURVIVOR.”
“…LADY LUCIDIA, IS THERE A SHORTCUT TO THE LIBRARY?”
It’s dangerous to use static portals in a crisis. They could be blocked by debris, or the user might emerge right in the middle of a collapse. It’s an unknown passage.
But if Papyrus asked for it, Lucidia understood that getting there was of paramount importance.
“Follow my lead.”
Lucidia guided them through the Library’s shortcut. When the two Seers emerged from the exit, they found themselves standing on the fourth floor of a half-burnt library.
Smoke lingered in the air, but there was no fire. Someone had already extinguished the place.
Why’d they come here?
It’s a sad sight. Annals of history, reduced to ashen remnants.
Papyrus placed Lucidia back down on her feet. He got right to the task of scouring the toppled bookcases. He’s looking for something… or someone.
Lucidia heard the faint cries of struggle coming from the corner. He must have heard it too.
There, she spotted a boy with headphones. That’s Yorik, one of the boarding school students. A Blue Major from one of the main Vanquisher families. His chest shone bright, trying his darndest to use his magic alleviate the weight of one of the fallen bookshelves. The hot, charred debris complicated his efforts.
Green light shone between the gaps. It’s the trait of kindness, the basis of many shields.
Someone’s under the rubble.
“HEADPHONE HUMAN!!” Papyrus called out. A pretty obvious nickname in hindsight. “DO NOT FEAR. THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS HERE. YOU ARE SAFE NOW!”
Yorik paused his efforts. “H-hey! You’re that skeleton from Ebott! Thank God!”
Papyrus wasted no time to help him with the load. “WHEN I SAY ‘GO’, WE LIFT THE HEAVY TOGETHER! OKAY?”
“Yes sir!”
On cue, the two’s combined might managed to flip the bookshelf aside.
The debris collapsed, but they rolled off the curves of a magical shield. Lucidia levitated the pieces and placed them aside.
Papyrus gasped at another familiar face. “GLASSES HUMAN! SO IT’S YOU!”
The girl chuckled despite the situation. She had two little eight-year olds under her wing. The small ones must have gotten lost in the chaos.
“Her name is Ines, dear.” Lucidia explained. “The young man you helped here is Yorik.”
“INES AND YORIK? THOSE ARE VERY COOL NAMES FOR TWO AWESOME HUMANS!”
Papyrus gave both of them a huge congratulatory hug.
“Great Papyrus,” Ines asked, “Is there anyone else trapped in the library?”
He used a few seconds to check with his Eye.
“AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, YOU HAD FOUND THE LAST ONES ON THIS FLOOR. CONGRATULATIONS! THAT’S VERY BRAVE OF YOU TWO TO SAVE OTHERS.”
“SEE? I KNEW YOU’RE GREAT! THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES! IF YOU DIDN’T BELIEVE IN YOUR COOLNESS, MANY SMALL AND NOT-SO-SMALL HUMANS WOULD HAVE VISITED GOD PREMATURELY.”
Apparently he had become quite a motivational figure as of late. Lucidia smiled at the growing confidence of the students.
“We’ll take it from here.” Lucidia said, “You’ve done an excellent job. Now, please get to safety.”
After giving the kids the same instructions of escape, the duo hurried back to the main airwell, arriving there just in time to witness the results of the mystery rescue team. Members of the education faculty hurried out of the mayhem: the able-bodied carrying the injured.
She noted that some of them suffered minor burns. Others struggled with cuts, bruises. Otherwise, they appeared fine.
“Grillby!!!”
Speaker identified: Captain Undyne.
She’s talking to… Grillbz Grillenn?
He’s the ex-Captain of the Royal Guard and owner of his own establishment.
Lucidia understood why Captain Undyne would be here, but the retiree?
They hurried to the scene. It’s not a good situation. Ten unconscious victims balanced on Undyne’s shoulders, yet she’s trying to go back to get one more.
That person was none other than Grillby. He’s on all fours. Trembling. Rippling. The untamed fires crawled out from his being, threatening to lash out in all directions.
He urged Undyne to flee. “…Save them… Go!…”
A section of the ceiling collapsed next to the downed man.
“But you’re gonna blow up like a fucking reactor!”
It turns out that this supposed simple bartender was a member of the Fire Eater tribe. The few who evaded death and capture eventually migrated to the Southern Hemisphere. Understandable, since the islands of Lemuria were ill-suited for their kind.
He had absorbed far beyond his limit. How much? Lucidia does not know. Should nothing be done, the sudden blast will cause a cave-in.
What should she do?
Where should she go?
While she pondered, Papyrus called out for Undyne: “ESCAPE WITH THE HUMANS!”
The fish captain turned around in surprise. “Paps?! You’re okay?! Who’s that skelly lady?”
“NO TIME TO EXPLAIN.” He replied, “GRILLBY WILL BE OKAY IN HER HANDS.”
Lucidia didn’t expect to be thrown straight into an active role. Making quick decisions in the middle of a crisis was not her thing: she specializes in the rumination of information. Everything she had done so far were well-prepared applications of theory.
The puzzled gaze from Undyne further added discomfort.
“Papyrus?” said Lucidia, “I think you may need to reconsider.”
“I BELIEVE IN YOU!” so the youngster insisted. “AFTER ALL, YOU ARE THE FAIRY GODMOTHER OF THE SKY!”
The sky: the blue yonder above with free space all around.
“Understood.”
I can do this. If little Ines can give it her all, then I can too. I know my powers.
In one hop, Lucidia propelled herself towards the man of fire. Eyes activated, skull cranes summoned, she’s prepared to execute a move she once used on a certain pun-cracking skeleton.
She turned Grillby’s SOUL blue and lifted him off the ground. Encasing a Fire Eater in a zero gravity bubble had a history of complications which she would rather avoid.
“Can you count to three?” she asked.
He nodded. That’s his absolute limit.
One. She flew straight up into the portal that led to the hidden library. There were no safe direct escapes to the sky from her current location.
Two. One dash between the bookshelves later, the coldness of the stratosphere blasted against her face. It’s the realm where the sky and land had a clear parting.
Three. She let Grillby go. Lucidia pulled her crane skulls close. With her tools in formation, she conjured a force-deflecting shield.
For a moment, she heard nothing. Felt nothing: her consciousness engulfed by the luminosity of rampant combustion.
The fires died a second later. Grillby started to fall straight into the cityscape beneath him. He screamed, like anyone else in this situation would.
She sent her cannons down to catch the poor man. They turned his essence purple and slowed him down to a gentle descent.
It would have been a direct dejavu if it wasn’t a very different person.
Estimated absorption: 2000%
The average best records of Fire Eaters can hold up to a 1000% of their physical capacity. The numbers are not adding up. Certainly, he pushed beyond his limit, but that much?!
It’s not possible unless he’s…
The woman of the sky floated down to Grillby’s side. Bowed a curtsy in full respect.
“I am Lady Lucidia,” she introduced herself. “Thank you for rescuing our people.”
He tried to say something, but he lacked the volume to convey his words. In the end he just returned a nod.
It won’t do to discuss matters in such a windy atmosphere. So, Lucidia guided Grillby back to solid ground. She chose the koi lake: far away from the public eye.
From there, they gazed up on the monument that she called home. Despite all their best efforts… the destruction continued unchecked. Even if the flames weren’t hot enough to melt the supports, they continued to climb upwards to the literal heart of their organization.
Grandpa… We’ve failed.
The retired knight beside her must have thought of the same. He leaned against a lamp pole, in despair and defeat.
“…I wasn’t strong enough…” he confessed.
“Sir Grillenn,” said Lucidia. “It’s unreasonable to take on a task of this magnitude alone. You had already saved the student body and more. Please do not feel dejected.”
When all seemed bleak…
…A groovy tune started to play. The source came from Grillby’s pocket.
“…Oh… that’s Mettaton…”
He took out a miniature version of the celebrity, box-form. They serve as communication and recording devices outside of battle.
The Mini started airing a broadcast.
“Beauties and Gentlebeauties~~~ Mettaton live on the channel! Your dashing celebrity brings you good news: the wonderful combined brains of our Crafter fellows -- with the remote assistance of the brilliant Doctor Alphys -- have almost completed the repairs! Motivated by yours truly, of course~”
Lucidia thought that was a needlessly eloquent and self-glorifying way to deliver the good news, but it was welcomed nonetheless.
“Oh look, backup has arrived. Kiss that fire goodbye, folks!”
The Mini Mettaton then transmitted a yelp of pain. Sparks of magical electricity zapped the tiny floating calculator.
Sounds of scuffle followed.
“W-what?! Put that knife down! Oh no darling, I’m not going to let you do that--”
The transmission ended in a static and the Mini fell flat on the ground.
“It’s a Gungnir ambush!” Lucidia gasped. “If the Crafters let their guard down, it means the enemy must wear our uniform. That explains the sabotage…”
“If Mister Mettaton is fortunate, they’re members of the unskilled lower echelon. I dare not consider the alternative.”
The mighty roars of Undyne’s trademark battlecry flew over her head. Papyrus had turned someone’s mundane motorbike into a hovercraft of science fiction. Sitting at the back was none other than the fishy Captain.
They too must have heard the distressing twist of events. Zoomed away to solve the problem. Just like that, they’re gone.
Grillby then politely asked: “…Lady Lucidia… are you a target…?”
He raised a good point. She’s outside of the building, far away from the protective confines of her household. “Possible, Sir Grillenn. I am, without a doubt, one of the most valued targets of our enemies. They will take any opportunity to assassinate me.”
“…Then being out in the open is dangerous…” He said.
“…Please allow me… to protect you…”