Calixte ArcThe drag was still there, trying to pull me back. I had mastered it, but it remained. At first, I couldn't understand why. What was the point? Surely whoever it was recognized that I couldn't be trapped again.Not unless I was injured, or my ability to resist was diminished. Could that be it? Where they waiting for a soldier to shoot me? If they were, whoever it was wasn't going to be happy. I wasn't about to let a soldier shoot me."The soldiers have retreated," Alphonse said, peaking his head out of the cover. I hoped for his sake that he was supplying mana to his gem.The sensation was constantly there, prickling at the back of my senses. I wished it would go away. It may have no power, but it was annoying. I could even feel the connection back to whoever was doing it...The connection back to the castor. Could I reverse it? Or at least find out where they're hiding?"Alphonse, I need you to keep watch for a minute.""... Your Highness?""I told you to call me Calixte.
Shadow MasterShe watched as the prince blinked out of existence, not that he was truly there to start with. He had followed her mind back here, something she hadn't planned for. The boy was talented, but he was still new to the effects in the grand scheme of things. He shouldn't have been able to follow her."That boy." If she wasn't so furious, Shadow Master might have been impressed. As it stood, she was going to make him pay. He should have kept his guard up the whole time because she has a small point in his mind.With her shadow attaching him, the prince didn't have the time to stroll down memory lane. She'd throw him back into one of the memories he'd already experienced. Sure, he'd resist, but with that monster coming at him...She set the shadow to kill. She no longer cared what Emer Gallagher wanted. If the girl became a problem, Shadow Master would use the shadow to end her life as well. The Central Party couldn't fault her. Emer Gallagher was a hired assassin, nothing more
Calixte ArcI couldn't do anything but watch as the shadow melted out of Alphonse's own shadow. At that moment, it truly looked like the grime reaper ready to begin its bloody work.The world turned to slow motion as the shadow swung its scythe. I aimed, looking down the sights at the monster about to reap my teammate.I channeled my mana into the bullet. I had to shoot now, or that thing would kill him- the world started to spin. No! Not now. I had to keep my eye on the prize and save Alphonse.I pulled the trigger before the memory could suck me in."You're probably right.""Calixte... Calixte and Tanya. Why are you so familiar?""Rolo, pin him down for me, will you? My arm's getting tired.""Roger."I took a deep breath and kept my arm in the same position. I closed my eyes and in an explosion of light, I was back in the real world.The monster cut through Alphonse's shoulder, but the wound didn't look deep. Or life-threatening. Alphonse fell to the ground, but that was just to rol
Calixte ArcThe enchanted bullet struck through the shadow, but I didn't have much time to admire my handy work. I thought I clamped down on my mind with iron, but the force drawing me back into my memories came back with a vengeance. The world swam again and drifted into the misty reality of my mind and my memories...Only it wasn't my memories. I could tell by the context of the misty world that there were memories. I was all too familiar with this state of mind now, but as the mist swirled around me and became solid form, I was in a room I recognized.Only because I was just there when I followed the source of these attacks back. This was the room of the woman who was orchestrating the memory attacks on me.She channeled her mana into the crest, watching as the Aquitaine team slowly surrounded the trap.As more plans landed and they were forced to retreat, the watcher brought her mirror up. She channeled her mana into it, creating a two-way reflection with her team."Commander.""W
The InspectorAs he was brought into the room, Inspector Calares watched him closely. The young man sat down with that calm demeanor of someone sure they weren't going to be executed. It wasn't an act and that surprised him more than anything else. If he was in that young man's position, he wouldn't have been able to remain so calm.If this interview went poorly, if the higher-ups decided he was guilty, Sanctus wouldn't just kill him. He'd be subjected to tortore as a tratior to the People's Union, a fate arguably as bad as hell. Of course, they would never send his soul to hell. The Party went to great lengths to ensure their people had a frame of reference to what happened to traitors.This man would be made an example of and Inspector Calares sure as he didn't want to be the one to send him there, but he had a job to do. If he failed, they'd turn their sight on him.The young man didn't say anything. He just grinned. Inspector Calares didn't meet his eyes at first. He picked up his
Master ShadowShe glared at the man in white, hunched over his crystal ball. She hated that she had to rely on him, but without his guidance, they'd be blind. Still, it didn't sit right with her."Where are they?" she demanded of him. Master Shadow had half a mind to run over and peer into the ball herself, but she didn't have the spells to work it. So she was left standing there, waiting."They just left the room," he said quickly. He didn't want to draw her anger, which proved he had a brain in his head."Where are the prince and the other one going?""They're heading towards the other intruders."Master Shadow rubbed her chin. They wanted to link up, did they? Her instinct wasn't to allow that, but it might be better. If she could cripple the prince in dreams and memories...But she had already tried that. He was resisting and the protection he put around his mind was strong. She could pierce him one more time, but after that, she wouldn't have enough power left. One last time and
Calixte ArcRUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE! BANG! BOOM! RUMBLE!It was like loud crackling in my ear. It started the hell out of me. I was sure someone had snuck up on us, but when I looked around, it was only Alphonse and me. "Did you hear that?""No. Hear what?""It was loud and..." I trailed off. "If you heard it, you wouldn't have to ask
Calixte ArcAs the world swam around me, I was jolted back into a familiar scene. One that had happened less than an hour ago. This was the freshest memory I had ever gone back to.The dark figure formed a black ink sword out of its arm. It was large and bulky, and it pointed it at us. Before I could react, the creature leaped forward. Despite how bulky his sword was, it moved like a fucking ghost. Before I could defend myself, it was right in front of me. Its sword-arm gleamed in the light and he struck me in the chest full on.The question was, how did I get into this memory? The woman in that room must have been the one assailing me, but how did she do it? It had felt like she forced a spike of ice into my head and then I was here.That mental assault was more powerful than anything I have ever felt from her. I didn't know she had that amount of force. If she had... If she had... Why didn't use it before?I found out the creature was made of mana because my shield gem flickered to