“Haa… Haa… That was close…” Florence checks himself to make sure he’s still all there. Hands check, legs check, head check. He breathes a sigh of relief. He just barely managed to slip back into the portal there. Thank Lady Tsubame that he set up this emergency exit to his bedchamber just in time. Still, that girl managed to get a shot into his stomach. He tries sitting up but what feels like a spike driving itself into his abdomen prevents him from getting any further. He crumples back onto the ground, panting from the pain. He was hoping to not have to use this but it seems he doesn’t have a choice. He reaches into his cloak and retrieves a small vial of red liquid. Uncorking it with his teeth, he pours half of its contents directly onto the wound. Immediately, the wound begins to close, the pain starts to fade, and the bullet pops out of his stomach. He sighs from the relief.Standing up, Florence lifts the now tattered teleportation cloth up to the light before throwing it to h

Dammit. Tsumugi storms out of the meeting room, through the empty halls, underneath the orange lights, and into the ruined wing of the Curia. This place, that was to be Takakumo’s first orphanage, that was to be her lifelong dream fulfilled, that was to be Asuka and countless others’ homes, ruined by a singular night. Hell, even if that bomb didn’t go off, that dream could still never be a reality. Dammit dammit DAMMIT! Those selfish fucks never had any intention of listening to her. Why would they? Why should they care? They have more important things to worry about, like drinking, smoking, fancy cars, dinner parties, you know, what really matters in life. “How did it go–” “Bear with me a moment, Haru.” It takes Haru a moment to realize what’s happening. She’s kissing her. As in, on the lips. It only lasted half a second but it definitely happened. It’s as though she sucked her heartbeat right into her mouth. When she finally broke away, it felt like she was just struck by li

“STELLAR!” Gleam’s the first to engage. It’s only natural that the one with mastery over ‘light’ that she’s able to move the fastest. In a fraction of a second, a dozen cuts. In a full second, a hundred cuts. Jessica splays her wings and raises them in a kind of shell around herself to block Gleam’s relentless attacks. The shrill sound of metal grinding against metal fills both of their ears.While Jessica and Gleam are engaged, Tsuki and Tsumugi begin their approach towards each other. Using massive amounts of built up steam to propel herself, Tsuki bounds across the landscape, accelerating with every step she takes. “Gharab” Tsumugi sheds her old wing, summons a new one and begins to match Tsuki’s speed. The two start to circle each other. “Hahaha! You’re faster than I remember, Tsumugi!” “So are you, Tsuki.” Gleam’s voice cuts through their battle. “HURRY!” A powerful magic inflicts an equally intense drain on the user. Gleam’s fast, but she’s not fast forever. Tsumugi’s on a c

“We need Tsuki dead.” Florence has his legs propped up on the coffee table. “Tonight.”Kikimi sighs. She figured that the last bombing wouldn’t be the end of their killing, but to think that they’d have to do it so soon… “Is there no other way?” “Why do we want this Tsuki chick dead anyway? She seems like she’s going to keel over in a stiff breeze.” Kazuko, still in her maidservant disguise, states in the bluntest way possible. “We can’t risk it.” Florence kicks off his boots. It’s been a tremendously long night and an even more exhausting day. “A tiger is most dangerous when it’s cornered. She might spill the instant it becomes clear to her we’re not acting in Tsumugi’s best interest.” “Yes… Without a doubt, that girl is… dangerous.” Kikimi nods her head. “We’re going to be okay, right?” “Of course.” Florence has to muster up every single ounce of courage he has to say that. “Even Tsuki is only a road bump.” “Do we really have no other choice?” “If you have any suggestions, I s

“Ready?” “Ready.” In the dead of night, Kikimi and Kazuko creep through the empty halls of the Curia. Kazuko hardly makes a peep while Kikimi tries her best to keep up. “Everything good?” “Yeah… yeah. Everything’s fine.” She can’t get the image of the girl standing over all those corpses out of her mind. When she kills Tsuki, will she be the same way? How much of herself will remain? She doesn’t know.“Kagami… please give me strength.” She offers a quiet prayer.“Hm?” “Nothing. Nothing.” “Well, look sharp. We’re here.” The door to Tsuki’s room stands before them, tall and imposing. Kikimi touches a gloved finger below the door handle, where the lock should be, and turns it into a silent bomb. The sorcery of Mute Charges. That is the nature of the magic contained within the artifact. Whatever Kikimi touches with the glove becomes a bomb. All she needs to do is snap her fingers and the lock should detonate. ‘Click’Sure enough, the lock explodes without a sound. There’s a litt