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Seraphiel sniffed her box of takeaway food suspiciously. Not finding anything wrong with the smell, she decided to taste it carefully. A single bite didn't seem to have any effect, so she dug in deeper.
"Wow, sis, you're getting really paranoid," Raziel commented, happily chowing down on his own food as they sat down in the stands of the Tatsumiya Shrine. The shrine itself had been converted into a series of small arenas.
“Oh please. Nearly all my food has been poisoned for the last four weeks. You’re just lucky I drew the line on them poisoning your food just so I’d have to train my [Cleanse].” Instead, she’d been working at the school infirmary. Having the ability to remove all sorts of maladies, while at the same time having a nigh universal heal at her disposal, made her rather useful. Not as useful as someone with a dedicated healing Class, but there were a lot of injuries to heal, even if many security measures were taken to avoid lethal injuries. That and drunk students in need of sobering up, as alcohol was counted as poison.
[Congratulations! [Purity of Body] has leveled up from 40 to 41!]
“Ah-ha! I knew it!” She declared, with a vindicated feeling. “A slow-acting poison this time.” Finding out that the food was poisoned didn’t stop her from eating of course. Especially since the poison this time seemed to be tasteless. Some poisons actually tasted quite good, while others were dreadful.
“You know, it could be just that the ingredients used were spoiled?” Raziel suggested.
“While possible, I find that unlikely. With my level of Vitality, spoiled food doesn’t really register as poison. Although, I suppose the Skill could still protect me against it even if it wouldn’t do anything to me.” She conceded.
Raziel just shook his head in amusement. Seraphiel might not admit it, but he could see that she enjoyed these little shenanigans with Kaede and Instructor Tatsumiya. Otherwise, she would've already put her foot down, just like she'd done with poisoning him. The teachers wouldn't do something that the students genuinely opposed. She might act put-upon and whinge at the supposed injustice, but she was having fun, and it was showing results. “What do you want to do with the break?”
The school year was coming to an end. Some students went home to visit family during the short gap between years, but many didn’t bother, mostly because of the distances involved. Mahora, like many other academies, moved between worlds, and travel between worlds wasn't always cheap or even possible. When you had to travel long distances, you had to make several jumps between worlds, and not all those worlds were peaceful, or copacetic about their world being used as a pit-stop. Of course, if Mahora happened to stop close to their home, many students that otherwise wouldn't would visit home.
“Honestly? Not sure. How about you?” Seraphiel turned the question around.
“We have very little reason to go back home with mom working here and everything.” Raziel pointed out.
“That’s true, but that only tells us what we’re not doing, not what we are. The teachers will be busy with taking in new students, so Kaede won’t be around to train us, giving us some peace and quiet. I suppose even I will cease training for a short while. We could just…relax, I suppose.” She suggested, her tone implying she was making some sort of outrageous and highly illegal proposition.
“You? Relax? Surely that’s not possible?” Raziel faked a shocked and scandalized tone, before laughing. “Seriously though, that’s not a bad idea. Maybe spend some time with mom. Speaking of, she’s been complaining that despite being a teacher at the same academy you go to, she almost never sees you.”
“Err, I mean, she doesn’t teach me anything since I’m not a mage. And we’ve both been busy with our training.” She said a bit defensively.
“Hasn’t stopped me from visiting her.” Raziel pointed out.
“I suppose I did promise to introduce someone to her.” She made a sigh, thinking of Mother and her mom in this life interacting. She quickly changed the subject. “How about your friends? Did they manage to get into the 4th-class just like you?”
“Most of them. Not all of course.” Raziel nodded.
“Weren’t they all students that had spent more years here than you?” She asked with a small frown.
“Yes, but not all of them are doing the level of training the two of us are. We’ve basically had the almost undivided attention of an instructor, plus the use of the Headmaster’s resort. Not a fair comparison, even if we did work hard to make the best of the opportunity.” Raziel defended his friends.
“I suppose.” She decided not to press the issue. “Still, it’s going to be embarrassing to them if they don’t get into 4th-class next year, and I will.”
“Sis, I don’t think it’s fair to use you as a measuring stick.” Raziel pointed out. "I'm already out of the ordinary, and even I can't keep up with you, even though I'm getting most of the same training. I think most people wouldn’t be bothered if you pass them.”
Their discussion was interrupted by the fights finally starting. Mahora Martial Arts tournament was an event that had been happening long before Mahora even arrived in this new universe. It was a celebration of martial arts ability, and thus all the participants were expected to engage in fights focused on their martial abilities, not their magical abilities. Unless those magical abilities added to their martial abilities of course. The Champion from Mahora, Negi, was one example of a martial mage, who used their magic largely to enhance their martial abilities. He was a proficient spellcaster as well, but his magically enhanced martial abilities were his biggest strength.
Due to the focus of the tournament, the fights were mostly close combat brawls, instead of exchanges of Skills at range. The first few events were traditionally battle royale-style matches where the number of participants was narrowed down to something more manageable. The event was fairly prestigious, and it wasn’t odd for people to travel to the event even from a relatively sizeable distance to test themselves against other martial artists. In many ways, it was akin to the events between academies, except the participants didn't need to be students.
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As the first group of participants clashed, Seraphiel narrowed her eyes a bit. “I have to say, I was expecting the level of the participants to be higher.” The fact that she could easily follow the fight at all was a bit odd. The fighters moved slow enough that even she could’ve participated. She wouldn’t have won, but she wouldn’t have been humiliated either.
Raziel glanced at her. “Ah, this is your first time seeing this, so you wouldn’t know. The event has a rule where every participant is limited to the level of Skills and Stats of the lowest level participant. They also throw in a low-level participant into every first-round event just to make sure the audience can follow along.”
“This continues to the later rounds as well?” She asked, suddenly curious. Those with higher levels and stats would still have an advantage, just not an overwhelming one. And they also had the downside of having to adjust to lower stats. Probably one of the reasons the first event was a battle royale, where they had the chance to adjust.
"Kind of? I mean, it's unlikely any of those low-level participants will make it to the later rounds. Just because your Skills are lower ranked, that doesn't stop the fact that they've evolved their Skills and Classes more times, or that some participants have more Classes available, even if the level of those Classes is lower. In the later rounds, the suppression will adjust to your opponent, who is likely to be higher level. So, the last rounds are often hard to follow, which is why they're shown as a slowed-down replay.” Raziel explained, having seen the event before. “Frankly, I’m a tad surprised you aren’t participating.”
“I might have if I’d been aware of that rule. I’m not interested in being humiliated after all.” She tapped her finger on her lip in thought. “Maybe next year. The Paladin Class is still too low level to make a difference. Once it catches up with my real level, I might give the event a whirl.”
“That’s a shame. I was kind of hoping you’d take part.” Evangeline said as she sat down behind them, holding a cute pink parasol to shade herself against the sun. “I could still get you a spot.”
"Not this year," Seraphiel stated firmly. She'd sensed Evangeline and Chachamaru approaching as the latter did nothing to hide her presence. “Like I said, I’m not interested in getting humiliated.”
“I think you might do quite well. You wouldn’t win, but you’d do pretty well. We all know your abilities are much higher than most participants, which would help you a lot.” Chachamaru, who was accompanying Eva, stated confidently.
Her words made Raziel look at the teacher weirdly. He’d always known his sister was good. Very good. Perhaps not good enough to justify what Chachamaru just said though.
Seraphiel just shook her head wryly. “It might be an interesting challenge, but I suspect the instructors are also participating. I know at least four of them would defeat me even with the suppression in place. Negi and Eva would almost certainly do so if either of you is participating.”
Eva smirked a bit. “Good that you’re aware. I’m not taking part, but the boy is the secret last boss of the tournament. The winner gets a chance to challenge him. Though I have to admit, I was kind of eagerly expecting the chance to see you lose.”
Seraphiel returned the smirk. “Exactly why I won’t be taking part. Maybe next year as I said.”
“I’ll hold you to that. You keep shooting down all my ideas. You didn’t want to hold a concert either. How very uncooperative of you.” Eva shook her head.
“Ah, but next year I’ll be able to take part in the tournaments between academies again, so you’ve got that at least.” She pointed out.
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“Charlotte, this is my mother in this current life, Ophiel.” She gestured towards the angel in disguise, who was looking quite surprised at the form of address. “Ophiel, this is one of my creators, and the creator Goddess of everything, Charlotte Richards.”
“Charlotte?” Ophiel asked in a slightly trembling voice. “Not a name I expected.”
“It’s the name of the mortal whose appearance I’m borrowing.” Mother clarified.
They were about to sit down at one of the more remote food stalls of the festival, where they wouldn’t be overheard. Especially after Ophiel warded their surroundings on Seraphiel’s request. The Perception stat allowed one to eavesdrop on conversations from a ridiculous distance.
“So, you’re Seraphiel’s original mother," Ophiel stated, apparently having gathered her bearings somewhat.
“In a sense, I am. The relationship is a bit more complicated because my children were not born in the traditional sense, but yes, my husband and I created her and her siblings. Among everything else.” Mother replied without a trace of humility. Though she wasn’t really bragging either.
“Everything?” Ophiel asked.
"Well, it would be more accurate that we created the seeds for all different universes, and they sprouted on their own. To use an example, I didn’t create you specifically, but I did help in making this universe happen. We didn’t force it to become what it is now, but we made it possible. My husband is big on free will, and that comes with the responsibility for the consequences of that free will.” Charlotte gave a small sigh. “Sorry about the small rant, but that’s what everyone always asks first. No, I don’t control your life, nor do I take any responsibility for it. I could, but I don’t.”
“You could control my life?” Ophiel narrowed her eyes.
“Dear, I could control everything if I wanted, but that’s not the point. That wouldn’t be a life. You need to be in control of your own destiny, for good and bad.” Charlotte explained. “Now personally, I would’ve interfered in things more than we have, but my husband disagreed. And this is His Creation so to speak. He gets the final say. And before you ask, that is also why I don’t snap my fingers and make your pet annoyance or favourite injustice or atrocity disappear. There are rules He has set down, and I choose to play along with them. For now at least.”
Ophiel glanced at Seraphiel. “And that includes what happened to her?” Her tone was rather incensed.
“I did protest her exile, but I was punished as well. Most of the time since then I’ve spent imprisoned. Well, house arrest would be a more accurate term. I only recently became free again, and now I’m here.” Mother decided to skip over the details, which Seraphiel appreciated. “That said, I’m not proud of what happened. I have already apologized, and I hope to make amends with time.”
“Good. She might not show it, but she was quite hurt by what you two did to her. Throwing her out without a good reason.” Ophiel’s motherly side came out. She gave a small sigh, before bumping a horn against a lamp. She was in the guise of a Draenei as well. “Could you at least make it so we can be in our bodies?” She asked with some annoyance.
“You can do it right now. If all the Angels chose to reveal themselves tomorrow, I don’t think you’d be harassed as badly as you think. That said, I think our daughter will force some changes in that regard.” Charlotte smiled at both of them.
“Our daughter?” Ophiel repeated in a whisper, which was obviously heard by the other two, not sure how to feel about the expression.
Charlotte ignored it diplomatically. “Frankly, I’m a little surprised you’ve managed to keep yourself from revealing it for this long.”
Seraphiel shrugged. “It helps that we can let go with my brother while at the headmaster’s resort. I have to admit that I’ve almost forgotten to take the Draenei form a couple of times when leaving the place. Still, it wouldn’t be too bad since I’d just look Human without my wings out.”
“Honey, you couldn’t look like a Human if you tried.” Charlotte pointed out, and Ophiel nodded emphatically at the words. “And I consider that a good thing. I know your Father dotes on Humanity, and I’ve recently grown more of an appreciation for them, but do not confuse that for them being equal.”
"Especially in this universe," Ophiel added her agreement. "I don't know about other universes, but here we are quite literally better. That doesn't mean you should look down on them of course."
"You two found a common tune quite fast," Seraphiel commented. "Not sure I'm glad you found it on this exact topic, but whatever."
“Oh, that does remind me of something.” Ophiel suddenly realized. “You’re heavily implying being all-powerful. What about all-knowing?”
“No. As much as my husband might claim otherwise, no we are not all-knowing. We can find almost anything out if we want to, though.” Charlotte replied.
"Well, I was curious about her dad's identity." Ophiel gestured towards Seraphiel, carefully avoiding the word father.
“I could find out," Charlotte said carefully. "However, do you really want to know? Not all knowledge is beneficial. Sometimes you're better off not knowing."
Ophiel considered that for a moment, but her hesitation passed. “Yes, I do want to know. As bad as it could be, it’s better to know than not. Not knowing might bite us in the butt later on.”
Charlotte got a far-off look for a moment, before looking surprised. “Oh! Interesting. I’m not actually allowed to tell you. I mean, I could despite not being allowed to, but that would come with some heavy consequences. The negative kind. I can tell you that you will not benefit from knowing in any way, at least for now.”
“Hmm, maybe not then. I’m not curious enough to incur penalties, although you did pique my curiosity even more.” Ophiel relented.
“That doesn’t sound ominous at all," Seraphiel muttered and took a bite of her food, before spitting it out in disgust. "Charlotte damn it!”
“What did I do?” The Goddess in question asked.
“You? Nothing. My food is poisoned again.” This time the taste was vile. “How does she keep doing this?”