This place could go fuck itself.
No, seriously. Initially, Ember thought that they could uncover some local magic or perhaps that the source of weird rumours in this town would turn out to be one of their own Dark girls. Then, she could have proceeded to sink her claws into said girl’s skull and convince her to join the Detention club. After all, they were in need of new members with the recent encroaching of the Light girls onto their territory. Unfortunately, countless days of investigations turned up worse than nothing.
They only found mere urban legends or whispers with no power. There was not enough fear for Ember to seize, nor were there enough Miseria on the streets, the little buggers almost completely absent. The four could barely sustain themselves on the energies here, never mind gain power. And so it was time to move back to Hibusa city with nothing to show for their search; they had already expended too much effort in pursuit of nothing.
Schrade would not likely not be happy about it.
“At least we stretched our legs,” commented Hotaru while as Sylvia collected their belongings.
“Won’t you reconsider the beach?” She tried her best to colour her voice as though she were asking the rest of them with puppy-dog eyes. Fortunately, she had an ally on her side.
“Hotaru has a lovely idea,” added Ember with a smile bordering on the indulgent.
“I think you girls deserve some time in the sun. You have earned it.”“And I could go diving!” Hotaru all but vibrated in excitement as she spoke, the feeling transmitting to Sylvia as well, who could only arrest her fingers after they clenched – but before they could raise into the air as Hotaru commanded.
“Only through an Oss, Hotaru,” warned Sylvia while she picked up her towel. She was the only one who remained neutral, her tone even.
“We don’t have the equipment and we shouldn’t be losing bodies out here.”“I am sure that Hotaru will do just fine.” Ember’s smile continued unabated.
“We could get some ice cream and forget about this whole thing, too!”“Ice cream would be bad for our health... if I weren't a magical girl who likes ice cream!” Hotaru’s smirk was palpable as she spoke and the three laughed at the joke. Even Sylvia smiled as she finished packing her bag. Running through her mental list one last time to see if she had everything in order, she borrowed a bit of Hotaru’s strength to lift her luggage. They were ready to go; they only had to lock the door.
However, as Sylvia stepped into the hallway, she sensed something in the distance. More specifically, towards the beach. It almost felt as though it were a pinch of magic, used in a familiar way. Surely, though, her sisters-in-arms could not be here, could they? They had their own things to do, or if they were just here on a vacation – oh how Ember envied that thought! – they would not have used their magic like this.
A small frown made its way onto Sylvia’s face. She tried to put one foot in front of another, but she kept trying to listen to the murmurs of magic with the help of the others. Indeed, as they paid close attention, they could make out a rough individual pattern of something big in the making. It almost felt as though it were some sort of ritual gaining in strength, the emotions of passerbies joining in one by one. Something had to have caught the attention of several hundreds of people at least for this to be plausible.
But what was it? Sylvia leaned even closer so she could try to make it out.
It erupted into a maelstrom of malice and panic.
Head ringing from the sudden surge, Sylvia felt herself collapse onto her knees. Only the quick reflexes of Hotaru saved her from sliding down the stairs as the shockwave hit her head on. Like the buzzing of rotting, swarming flies, it towered over her; thousands of voices shouting over each other in panic, trying to find something – anything, really – to hold onto, but only finding more terror in each corner. And of course, what followed was an all too familiar feeling of pitch sliding down her throat.
“I’ll take over,” said Hotaru, suddenly all business.
“No,” replied Sylvia, her voice barely above a whisper even in the mindscape they shared.
“This… this is too big for one of us.”“Looks like vacation’s cancelled,” sighed Ember as she conveyed pinching her nose in frustration, her teeth braced in a grimace.
“I really wanted you girls to relax a little…”“Is… is that really wise?”“You’ve sensed it too, Sylvia. We’re not alone.”“That’s right. None of us are ever alone,” Ember reached out towards the shuddering Sylvia, trying her best to convey warmth through the space. She lifted Sylvia’s hands to have them embrace the girl, with a motherly frown on Ember’s face.
“We’ve left that behind. And even if it’s just the three of us, this is an opportunity.”“You are… you are right. I… I don’t know if I can be with you but… good hunting,” said Sylvia as she used the last of her strength to become one with the others, allowing Takae Shuuko to step forth once her consciousness ceased.
