After freshening up, Nex along with her companions exited her apartment. She stared at her house one last time before turning towards them. "Alright It's gonna be awhile, I hope we haven't left anything important.Then as she turned towards her left she saw Mrs. Su about to go to the market with their android Qinyue. "Oh my Young Miss! Where are you going this time? You're even taking Blair." Nex smiled and grinned as she waved towards the nice old lady, "Oh, another business trip. I'm getting busier and busier these days." Mrs. Su sighed and put her hands on her hips, "Ain't that the truth. MAke sure to eat properly alright? So how long do you plan on being out?" Nex scratched her cheeks from her question and wired rent for atleast 6 months. "That honestly depends on how long it would take. Hopefully after 2 weeks I'd be kickin it back here." She said as she laughed dryly.Mrs. Su nodded her head as she beckoned Qinyue, "Alright young lass stay safe!" Nex sreplied, "I will Mrs. Su!"
"Ain't it a sight to behold?"Nick's words flowed in and out of their ears as they stared at it's majesty. Too stunned to een sigh in amazement. It was a gilded City unlike the one's they know. The entire City was built on top of a floating island on top of the Planet Xynario's atmosphere. It's beauty cloaked for the universe's prying eyes. Unsullied by modern sensibilities as it preserved all sorts of lost cultures from all civilizations scattered across the vast cosmos. Myriads of Lifeforms, from towering giants to small pixie like creatures interact and peruse the various stalls filled with countless items both magical and exotic.Various building of all shapes and sizes that seemingly extent towards eternity, blend together in creating a golden spire of mythical incandescence. It was the prime example of a city of freedom. The fresh air felt refreshing as Nex inhaled various dished laid out in open restaurants that litter the market near them. In front of them was a golden statue
As they stood in front of the gilded gates, as if sensing their prescence, it immediately swung open. Nick then strutted towards the unguarded mansion. As soon as they entered there were two golems that stood tall posing as statues.Then they reched the central fountain surrounded by a mindbending hedgemaze making Nick chuckle wryly as he brought out an amulet that dispelled the illusion. The hedgemaze disappeared and suddenly they were transported towards the front door.Once more the doors swung open and a maid was standing in wait. She looked towards Nick and his companions. "Good Day Sir Nicholas, Lord Caglisotro will see you now. He thanks you for taking time off your busy schedule and visiting him."The maid said as she led them towards the house owner's study. She gently opened the door, then they were greeted by rows of cabinets filled with books. In the center of the room near the window was a desk and behind it was a tall silhouette of a man looking out the window. "Sir Nich
The two slowly walked aimlessly perusing the most random of things. "So are you joining the Adventurers Guild?" Setsuna said as she stared at the gothic bags being sold inside a goth clothing store. Nex followed along as she pondered her question, "Honestly... I don't know, bounty hunting has always been a mean to an end. To find the right connections, so I could deal with Magitech." She said as she looked at the jackets lined up with various types of designs. "As for when everything's over... I haven't really thought about it really..."Setsuna chuckled, "You got that right." She said as they bought random items and they both exited the store. The two grabbed some drinks and stared at the various walks of life roaming the city as they sat down on a nearby bench. "I never thought I'd get this far this quickly. 8 years felt like an eternity but coming face to face with it now." She sipped her cold drink slowly. "It just seemed so fast to me." She said as she leaned forwards.Setsuna lo
After having a nice candle lit dinner Nex stared at the pouch Nick gave her and it was still filled to the brim after all that shopping and eating. She stared towards Setsuna, "The night's still young and Nick's wallet is still too full. Wanna go hit the bar?" She said making Setsuna raise her eyebrows. "We have some studying to do tommorow, are you sure you wanna blow all our cash on alcohol?" Nex hurriedly nodded her head, "It's not my money and besides, We're going to war. It's not like we had anything better to do." She said as she dangled the pounch on Setsuna's face as it made loud clinking noises. "So whaddya say Miss Setsuna? Wanna go party?"Setsuna pondered while scrathcing her chin, "You wanna waste all that money, while you barely tipped the waiter. That's fucked up Nex." She said while chuckling softly making Nex shrug his shoulders, "He was so condescending! Just because he knew what italian was and we didn't..." She said as she grumbled whilst putting her hands in her p
Nick looked towards the sleeping duo sprawled next to each other in the garden of the mayor of the Golden heart with his brows furrowed. The two was snoring loudly without a care in the world as the maids praced around them seemingly afraid of disturbing them. He then looked towards Blair, "So you're telling me, they arrived here at three in the morning while giggling loudly and they tried to find the solution to the maze illusion but gaveup after 30 seconds and just sprawled in the ground and slept? Did I get all that right?" He asked as Blair nodded her head mechanically as she tried shaking the two but they we're out like a light." Blair shook her head, "I do not understand your desire to consume alchohol even if there's a cure for liver damage. I don't get why you willingly get yourselves inebriated." Nick scratched his chin, "Well you understand well enough while hanging out with us." He said as he patted her back. Soon enough he saw the owner of the house grinning, "They remind
The moment they entered the fortress they were greeted by a lobby filled with all sorts of adveturers hanging about. Taking a peek at the holographic screen floating above on which job is available, from dangerous jobs to menial ones it was filled to the brim. "So this is just the Magical Version of the BH guild?" Nex said as she stared at Nick. "Well... the original version of it atleast. The BH guild was established by a well known Rogue Mage a long time ago who wanted to be of service to the on mytical part of our universe. The problem was it got to political to be even associated with the Circle and the Adventurers Guild. It became a mess that birthed the current neutral entity that is the BH Guild." He said as he approached the receptionist for his reserved briefing room. A small pixie popped out of thin air right beside nick's shoulders and led them towards their destination. Nick pointed towards a huge empty room with nothing but a blackboard infront of them. Nex groaned as sh
"I see. Your Mana Vein is quite complicated indeed as he brought out a scrying glass to discern what it was. Nova then popped out of Nex's shadow in his cat form as he meowed to get Nick's attention. [So do you have any idea on what it is?] Nova asked Nick whilst looking serious. Nick shook his head, "Every strand is covered in purple flames and obscured by an unnatural darkness. What ever it is it's something that could potentially be dangerous to yourself or others." He said while sighing. Nova then turned to Nex, [I told you, no one alive knows the existence of your unique veins. As long as I'm obscuring it from view no one would be able to figure you out.] He told her telepathically.Nick then nodded his head as he stood up, "All right lets get on with the next part of out lesson. We've already covered the origins and dangers of absorbing too much mana." He then turned to Nex, "Now we turn to the dangers of casting spells way beyond your level." Nex raised her eyebrows, "Like what
The trio circled back towards the entrance while celeste blabbered on about the buildings architecture and defenses. "Since you are guests of Sir Nicholas, I bet you already know that msot of the artifacts here are the real deal relics from the age of gods, the age of magic and so on and so forth."She said not notocing the glint on Nex's eyes. "Most of these artifacts are have actually been used to fend off the invaders during the war. Some were even personally used by the twelve." She said as she pointed towards a large golden shield and a golden spear with its tip burning with blue flames.
Celeste carefully trotted along as she approached both Nex and Setsuna. The slowly hid behind the bookshelves as she peeked through the books.While doing so she listened in their conversation. Nex picked up books on whatever the hell caught her interest. However her eyes never stayed on one book for too long. She sighed as she closed another dusty tome. "If Nova was here I'd already fed him everything in this library." She said shocking Setsuna. "Feed him? Feed him how? like a fish?"Nex scratched her cheeks but before she could answer she spotted a fresh pair of eyes staring straight at them with unconcealed interest. Her eyes gleaming in curiousity as she leaned in the shelves much closer forgetting that she was concealing herself."Well... for starters nova eats for some reason like the rest of us who needs energy to survive. I remember him telling me he's converting the innate mana residing on things to fuel his energy reserves or something. I don't know. I'm not too sure on how
Nex peered over the gilded gates widely open as they could be. She scratched her chin as she looked around only to see gigantic shelves that towered over her containing various amounts of books. Rows of them that seemingly span towards infinity warding of any sane person who would wander the halls of vast knowledge.Ranging from dusty tomes to the more wierd and eccentric stuff like a crystal ball that could help them see the original owners memory. All of it were guarded by armed guards patrolling and keeping an ever watchul eye filled with vigilance.She turned around and saw various items incased in glass, while also engraved in glowing red magic circles. Setsuna stared at Nick once more and tilted her head as she eyed all the thing all around them. "This place is a library right?"Nex on the other hand approached the desk as her eyes darted all over the place seemingly impatient to just out right steal the things that caught her eye. Nick sensed this as the facepalmed and stared a
Once the golden Barrier disappeared the entirety of the Hidden Grand Library of Alexandria was unveiled to them. Golden sparks of light scattered across the air creating a majestic sight to behold. A huge Fortress lay before them gilded in all its glory. Unblemished, Untainted, and Unseen by the unworthy. A towering drawbridge slowly lowered in front of them.What awaited inside was a large plethora of knowledge awaiting to be seen by curious eyes. NEx coudn't help but whistle in surprise, "You mages really know how to go all out." Nick coudn't help but scratch his nose in embarassment from her words. "Well, Faust can be a little eccentric but that man knows how to make things a little more grand than what they should appear." He said as he led the two inside the castle in the middle.Setsuna looked around and saw huge watch towers and wyverns chained beneath them. Gigantic ballistas that watch over the cosmic skies, ever watchful of potential intruders. On the pathways were infantrym
"One of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. Created by the nine goddesses of arts themselves. Regarded as the capitol of knowledge and learning. The central gathering of all the most rare and mysterious books in the world. Not only that everything in that place is disaster proof, especially fire!" Nick said as he stared the the two slacked jawed women. "I welcome you two to the Great Library of Alexandria!" He said as he spread his arms wide. He then slowly panned towards Nobody who was nodding along at the grandeur. "Can we find records of you in there?" Nick asked as he crossed his arms scrutinizing every movement of Nobody. However he just shrugged, "You'd be extremely lucky to find it when it's buried in all these books. However I'm fairly sure you've read most of the library's contents don't you Nick?" Nobody said as he tried to step inside however a huge golden barrier suddenly appeared out of nowhere barring his entry towards the library. Nobody fr
The two finished touring around the Bazaar. They found Nick waiting for them at a bench with his arms folded in annoyance. The moment he saw them he raised his eyebrows, "So Did you enjoy the 'Bazaar that looks like the Golden Heart?'" He said as he scoffed. Nex scratched her cheeks, "Well, although it looks familiar. It's different enough to warrant exploring. Thankfully the roads are familiar to not get lost..." She said as her voice slowly shrank. "That's the point! Familiar enough not to get lost. But different enough to merit exploration!" Nick shouted at them. Setsuna crossed her arms and chimed in, "I still think it's a little lazy." Nick shrugged his shoulders, "Hey! if we could save money by just doing a simple palette swap and a small and minor adjustments then more power to it." He said as he snapped his fingers and showed Nex al the ingredients have been bought. "So should we summon it now?" Nick looked at Nex. However before she could answer, Nobody popped out of the sha
"It seems that only you are capable of summoning whatever this thing is. Hopefully not something truly bad. Who gave you this anyway?" Nex Shrugged her shoulers. "Where's Nova when you need him. His name is Nobody, and as far as I'm concerned... He's the one who has helped me the most in this long and arduous journey. He gave me those pages." Nick scratched his chin, "Not exactly a helpful pseudonymn." Nex shrugged her shoulders, "I feel like he's sort of sealed at the moment. There's like a time limit he could manifest himself. He is a tall man in a black suit, his face covered by the shadows, has glaring and ominous yellow eyes? This is his symbol." She said as she snapped her fingers and recreated Nobody's symbol.A Glowing Red Circle filled with undecipherable inscriptions that wriggle as if it's alive. In the middle of it all was an Inverted Ankh Painted with blood.Nick shook his head, "It's definitely not an egyptian god nor a mage of the same discipline. No one would dare use
"Well you're in luck kiddo. All the shit listed here is available in The Wiccan Bazaar! I just hope that this thing doesn't eat your face, Setsuna's, or mine!" Nex shrugged her shoulders, clearly not giving any fucks. Setsuna on the other hand took the page from Nick's hand. Then immediately passed it back to Nex, "Yeah... Have no idea what the fuck any of these mean." She said as she leisurely sipped her coffee.Blair handed them their breakfast as she prepared Nex's and Setsuna's clothes. "Eat up! It's gonna be a long day." He said as he and the gang chowed down on Blair's amazing breakfast. After a few minuites of lazing about Nick finally stood up and drew a magic circle on the ground. "This portal is technically encrypted and it changes on a weekly basis." He said as he snapped his fingers and a portal appeared beside the magical circle. Blair put her hands on her hips as she stared at Nick, "You do know, I have to clean your messes right?" Nick scratched his cheeks, "Uhh, everyt
Nex woke up feeling refreshed more than usual. She stretched her body and did some light exercise. She was no longer plagued by jolting pain everytime she woke up. She sucked in a batch of fresh air as she excitedly exited her room and almost bumped into blair on her way out.Blair's eyes were wide open as she stared at Nex awake and about. "Oh my, It seems you woke up on your own today Nex." She said as she put her hands on her hips. Setsuna came out of her door a little groggy, but awake nontheless. The moment she looked to her left and saw Nex energetically standing in front of her door all lucid, her jaws dropped. She tried pinching her cheeks only to wince from the pain. "What the hell? Am I in some kind of mirror dimension?" Nex chuckled, "Hey! no matter how thick my face is, I could still get hurt y'know?" Setsuna shrugged her shoulders, "Can you blame me? It's like a rebranding. It's almost freaky." She said as she moved towards the cupboards and start to brew herself some co