Stepping into the room, Lucy was greeted by Utopia peeking out from the privacy curtain.

“You got here quick? Did you run here straight from school?” Utopia asked.

Looking down at her clothing, Lucy shrugged.

“Quick… Yeah…” Lucy answered, Nell, appeared out of her bag and hopped onto her shoulder.

“We were attacked by an Invander on the way. It was an easy fight but another Magical Girl appeared and ended up stealing the kill at the end.” She continued.

Utopia was surprised upon hearing that Lucy was attacked on her way here.

“Well, there’s no point in standing. Come sit in a place that’s more comfortable for the injured.”

Lucy nodded and the trio moved into the curtain before Utopia closed it behind.

Immediately, Lucy’s eyes widened as the area inside was far larger than what it should be.

“Spatial Expansion Magic? Is this place funded by the Church?” Lucy questioned.

Looking around to try and find the device powering the place, her concentration was broken by Sora chuckling at her.

“Surprised? So was I. It’s a wonderful-looking place, isn’t it?”

No kidding. The room was decorated with colorful plants and a large nature aesthetic. It was like this was a garden created solely for the fallen Gaia.

Turning to face Sora, neither Lucy nor Nell could hold in the tears, both ended up basically leaping at her and embracing her.

“You’re okay! I’m so glad! I wasn’t sure if I made it in time with the first aid talisman.” Lucy said in between her sniffles.

Meanwhile, Nell cuddled up to her previous partner without saying a word.

For a moment, Lucy considered questioning how she was awake. Even with the best technology in the world, Lucy calculated her chances of surviving to only be around 40% and yet she woke up in just over 24 hours.

Now wasn’t the time for that though. A part of that massive weight was lifted off her chest so quickly. She had no complaints at this moment.

Being hugged by friends, both new and old was unexpected for Sora but by no means was it unwelcomed.

Embracing both of them, Sora smiled.

“Hey, you two. Have you been getting along?”

Lucy nodded without leaving the embrace.

It was rare for Lucy to show such care for someone but even rarer was it for someone she barely knew to protect her.

After another 5 minutes, the hugging of the girls was broken by a fake cough from Utopia, promptly reminding Lucy that she just let her guard down while she was deeply behind enemy lines.

As she shot up from Sora’s embrace, her face was flushed completely red while she sat in a nearby chair out of embarrassment.

‘’How Cute.’’ Both Utopia and Sora thought in unison.

“So, you mentioned something about another Sentinel? And that you were attacked on your way here?” Sora changed the topic, alleviating the situation.

“Ah! Yes!” Lucy nodded.

Pausing to collect her thoughts, she decided to start from the beginning. How she had already dealt with 2 separate invader attacks and about the magical Sentinel who wielded a Violin with her Carbuncle Agent.

Both Utopia and Sora had serious expressions.

“A carbuncle? She must be a newer Sentinel. I was never one to pay much attention to what other sentinel groups were doing but I would’ve remembered such a striking Agent.” Sora answered regretfully.

It was to be expected. If Nell didn’t know it was unlikely that Sora was but it was worth a shot.

“When I said that other Sentinels could be hiding out until us Operators died out, I was joking… To think that I was actually right.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Seeing Sora sad made Lucy narrow her eyes as she thought.

‘Should I talk to Diana? She could easily find out who they are but revealing that I’m a Magical Girl to her for no reason would open a whole nother can of worms.’

“That aside. 3 attacks in one week… That’s rare even for hotspots like Tokyo and Moscow.” Utopia added, scrolling through his phone while looking for news articles related to attack frequencies.

Once again, Lucy had to wonder who Utopia truly was. The amount cities that get attacked is something that any government would try and hide. This isn’t information you could just have lying around.

“You’re right. Listen, Lucille. I fear that something is gonna start happening to Nexus in the near future. I’m so, so sorry that I gave you these powers at a time like this. I hope that y-”

“Don’t finish that. If a storm is coming, I’d end up having to deal with it anyway. I’ll have you know, moving houses is really difficult for Witches because it involves moving our entire workshop. If anything, I’m glad I’m the one who has to weather the storm than a group of normal people.” Lucy stated, cutting Sora off before she could start guilting herself.

“Well said Lucille. Spoken like a true Sentinel.” Nell chimed in jokingly.

“Naturally. I have a wonderful guide after all.”

Seeing them try to raise the atmosphere, Sora couldn’t help laughing.

“Alright. If you ever need anything, I’ll try my best to help. Even if I can’t use magic anymore.”

Lucy nodded in agreement.

“Now then. Would it be possible for you two to leave us? I’d like to speak to Sora in private.” Nell said.

Looking at each other, Lucy and Utopia nodded. Nell wanting some one-on-one time with Sora made sense after everything they went through together.

Walking out of the expanded space and back into the hospital, Lucy couldn’t help but look Utopia up and down, staring daggers into every part of his body.

“Is there an issue, Miss Lucille?”

“Your existence is an issue.” She snapped back immediately.

Utopia smiled wryly while rubbing his temple. He knew that Lucy hated priests but to him, her hate seemed a little more complicated than simple prejudice.

“You never answered my question, priest. Just what is this place? Not to mention that girl who brought me back here? I hate to say this to you but I couldn’t hear a single one of her footsteps despite being so close to her that entire time.”

Utopia looked at Lucy before letting out a sigh after hearing her.

“About that… This hospital. It’s a place that treats all sorts of supernatural injuries with the cover of dealing with Invader-related problems. As for that girl, I assume you’re referring to Emilia. Long blue hair, thin but tall?”

Lucy nodded.

“I swear, I told that girl to pay attention. She’s a stray Eastern magic practitioner… Oh right, now that I think about it, you use Eastern Magic as well despite being a Witch, no?”

‘Eastern Magic. So she’s a Cultivator? They were never at odds with the church so it’s not unbelievable.’ Lucy thought.

Out of the many ways to unlock supernatural abilities, eastern methods such as Taoism or Buddhism were on the more interesting side of the spectrum. Foregoing nearly all elemental capabilities that make Witches and Priests so terrifying, they focus on tempering their bodies to the extreme.

“Oh, the Talismen? Sort of. Taoist magic is complicated but in the simplest words, what I use is a reversed engineered version of Eastern Magic.”

It’s not that Lucy didn’t want to get into detail but she couldn’t. Well, she also didn’t want to but the fact that it was impossible for her still remained. Diana was a master at making things like Talisman while Lucy didn’t understand it in the slightest.

“You’re capable of using such powerful offensive magic and supportive abilities? You’re not so simple, huh?” Utopia smiled at Lucy.

Turning her head, Lucy let out a sigh. She couldn’t care less about the words of a snake-tongued priest but for some reason, she didn’t hate hearing his praise.

“You’re one to talk, Young Master.” Lucy taunted in response.

“Heard that from Emi as well? Haah, I need to talk to that girl.”

“No, no. I quite like it. It’ll feel much nicer to call you Young Master when I slap your face because of your transgressions.”

“Oh yeah?” Utopia raised an eyebrow. “And what transgressions would those be?”

“As I’ve said. Merely existing.”

Utopia let out a small chuckle. Although her words are sharp, Utopia couldn’t find any malice in her voice.

||

“You have GOT to be joking with me.” Lucy groaned.

“Did something happen?” Utopia asked.

Running out of the curtains, Nell leaped onto Lucy’s shoulder.

“Lucille, Invaders have appeared. we need to hurry.”

Lucy nodded. “That. That’s what happened.”

Lucy began running out of the room only to be stopped by Utopia.

“Another Invader?! Are you sure?”

“Absolutely, Utopia. Sora told me to ask for your assistance but I would recommend against it. It’ll be dangerous for someone without the protection of an Agent.” Nell explained.

Utopia shook his head right away.

“Of course, I’m gonna help! You could be in danger.”

“Ugh… Then let’s go! Hurry!”

As much as Lucy wanted to deny the help of Utopia, she was on a time crunch here, and letting him tag along would be quicker than arguing with him to stay behind.

Without further ado, the group ran out of the hospital, ready to fight against these damned Invaders!