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Lildear18
Lily looked back, and her eyes widened in shock upon realizing what she had done in her panic attack: leaving Alex behind as she rushed forward with treating Mika in the Overcity, having nearly done the same to Su.
”Ah! Alex!” She shouted, struggling to wave to him while carrying Mika. She saw how he had taken more bestial features with his magic, and then facepalmed; she felt like crying right then and there from how idiotic she felt.
”I’m sorry, Alex! I thought you were running out of mana after the big fight so I panicked and didn’t think things through and you had to use more mana just to catch up and-Oh, here! Please help her!” She went into an anxiety-induced rambling, only to stop by offering Mika to Alex, allowing him to work his Reinforcement spells.
Fortunately, Alex still had enough mana to mend Mika's injuries, though thanks to Lily’s blunder he was now running low. Lily was fully aware of this, and was quiet as Tetrad and Silhouette guided the group towards the magical district, looking miserable. The group did not see any Ascendancy agents on their way, though they did eyes on them, watching from the crowds and alleys. Eventually, they found the Winged Monarch Artificing, a shop specialized in selling magical products. Just as Veronica promised the two Cradle agents, the owner held up on her word and allowed them to use the portal hidden beyond the back room, granting them passage back to Penrose.
”So, I guess this is where we’ll part ways” Lily spoke, though it came out more as a half-hearted mumble more than actual words. She looked at Mika.
”Sorry for not letting Alex heal you right away, Mika. I assumed things in a rush, and now I feel really bad for messing up. I’ll buy you ice cream once things have calmed down, I promise.”
She addressed Su and Tetrad next.
”And I was so caught up in trying to help, I caused more trouble for you as well. I’m sorry, Su.” She took Tetrad’s wrinkly hand.
”Grandma Tetrad, I should have listened to you. But I was, how do you say it, ‘ok boomer’ about it, and ignored you. I’m sorry for it.”
Finally, she turned to Alex, looking embarrassed.
”Alex, If I’m ever gonna do something stupid like this, please stop me.”
She averted her eyes, her face having turned a beet red.
”Sometimes, I act before thinking, and it causes more problems than it solves.”
Violet ignored Sophia’s initial hostility, having only given her a dismissive glance, perhaps because she didn’t expect the pirate girl to attack based on the calmness of her comrades. However, she did make a heavy sigh as Hilaria initially refused their gracious offer.
”Is that so?” She asked with an evil smile, her arms crossed and nose upturned. But then, when she requested something to eat, she lifted her eyebrow, looking mildly surprised.
”Uhh...Sure? I promise you will have something to eat.” When met with Amaryllis’ response, the rest of the squad seemed surprised, and whispered among each other, only to be stopped by Violet signalling with her hand. She rolled her eyes and added: ”Ok, good food it is then. Maybe FanFan has stashed cookies or something for her tea party.”
She let Hilaria consider her offer as she addressed Sophia.
”First of all, you need to work on your linguistics skills, buccaneer; I can hardly understand a word you say because of that accent. Secondly, this request was only given for the Eternal. If anybody is to be catered to, it is only her.” She stepped closer to Amaryllis with her fists resting on her hips, to the point she was now looking up at the taller, more shapely girl; their appearances were as contrasting as the sun from the moon. Even so, the petite girl exuded complete confidence and assertiveness, without a hint of embarrassment.
”The rest of you are irrelevant.”
Hilaria was surprised to see that Amaryllis made such an interesting (and tempting) offer. But these girls weren’t exactly the accommodating type. She was probably lucky they even bothered to agree to a small demand like her own. “Ah, don’t you worry yourselves about Hilaria~! Things will be okay~” She assured Amaryllis and Sophia. “Hilaria would love to eat with you once she’s done with these guys if you’ll have her~”
Delphi spoke up. “To answer your questions, this world is impure and tainted with darkness. If left to grow, it would consume this world in chaos and destruction. You also carry this corruption within you. Therefore, you must be purified if you are to be free of your curse.”
”As for the Cardinal’s intentions, that is for her and only her to know. But know this: it is a great honor for her to invite a remnant like you.” She looked at Hilaria.
”Do you accept these terms?”
Hilaria recalled many times when people were persecuted for ‘just’ causes because they happened to be different from others. That difference was always ‘evil’ or in some way bad, so people would then claim it was okay that they did what they did. The Ascendancy was a mirror reflection of the Beacon that Hilaria knew back then. They were willing to harass and abuse a DMG on sight. Only back then, there was no ‘cure’, so that left only one option for them.
“Cookies~?” Hilaria seemed ecstatic. “Mmm, as long as there’s lots, then Hilaria will go to meet your mom, or whoever~!”
”Hmph.”
With a lift of her hand, Violet ordered the Ascendancy squad to lower their weapons.
”Delphi, call an extraction. And send a message to FanFan to prepare her tea party ASAP.”
The other girl nodded, but then asked: “What about the other corrupted one?”
”The Cardinal’s order takes priority. Once that is resolved, we shall resume our mission to purify Penrose.” She then gestured for the squad to surround Hilaria, as a Beckoner appeared above them, saluted, and disappeared.
”If you make even a single threatening move, we won’t hesitate to strike you down. Now then, let us leave.” And with that, they were gone in a flash of light, leaving Sophia and Amaryllis to watch as sparkles of light faded away.
In a flash, Hilaria felt herself moving through space as the teleportation magic took effect, and she found herself in a clean facility-like environment. Specifically, she was now in the containment area of the Penrose Beacon HQ. She was then led through a door into what looked like a meeting room; there was a round wooden table with a white tablecloth covering it and chairs set around it. On the other side of the table, someone was sitting, her hands clasped together in prayer; Isthar.
”Cardinal Isthar, we have brought the Eternal,” Violet reported with a sharp salute. Isthar, slowly lifted her head up, and opened her shining eyes; as their gaze met, Hilaria felt something buried long ago clawing its way up.
”...Seraph Violet, leave us.“ Violet’s eyes widened.
”But Cardinal, she is-”
”The discussion we shall have is to be private. Understood?” From such a gentle-looking magical girl, her voice carried great resolve, to the point Violet lowered her head in respect.
”Understood. We shall post guards outside the room then.” After the guards left the room, closing the door behind them, only silence pervaded the room; Hilaria could tell the room had been enchanted to be sound-proof. After a moment of looking at Hilaria, Isthar spoke:
”Helewisa...You are still alive, after all these years. Do you remember me?” She asked, her voice sorrowful.
The girl immediately shook her head. "Has Hilaria met you before~?" she asked innocently. "Hilaria has seen lots of people~ So many that she doesn't remember them all~" she then explained. She tried about as hard as she could, but there was only fuzz when she did.
Isthar’s eyes turned wet, resembling setting suns in the horizon.
”You...You don’t remember me? It’s me, Isabella...” Tears formed in her eyes, and slowly drifted down her cheeks, staining the tablecloth.
”I guess...A thousand years would be enough...To forget anyone...Even...Your sister.”
"Isabella~? Sister~? Hilaria doesn't know..."
The onset of a sudden but terrible headache messed with her train of thought briefly. Something was familiar about that name. Well, she doesn't remember them specifically, but she knows that a fair amount of people over the years had used that name. But this feeling wasn't the same.
"Hilaria... doesn't have a sister, does she~?" she seemed a bit unsure of it herself. That made sense given her only clear memories of her life before being a magical girl were essentially when she became one.
Isthar put her hands to her face, covering it as she softly wept.
”No...You’ve forgotten...” For a long time, she cried, her tears streaming like the Nile in the morning sun.
”All those years ago, we were separated. I thought you had perished. But to think...You’ve become like this...”
By the time it was over, she had taken a handkerchief, and blew her nose on it.
”Helewisa...You died that day, didn’t you? And now you’re...not Helewisa. Not anymore.”
"...No, Helewisa isn--"
The headache only seemed to be getting more severe, and thus it was harder to speak how she wanted to. She just called herself by the wrong name! ...It was wrong, wasn't it?
Hilaria wasn't crying like Isabella was, but by now she was certainly not happy. She grimaced as she rubbed her temple, not exactly in the state to feign a happy demeanor. "Hele..." she caught herself again. "...I'm not dead. I've never died, I don't know... what you're talking about...!"
At that point, the sound of a door buzzer could be heard, followed by FanFan’s voice: “Um, Cardinal Isthar? I’m going to hold a tea party now, with some very delicious cake. Violet mentioned that you and the corrupted girl wanted to join in.”
Isthar closed her eyes, and clasped her hands back in prayer.
”...You may come in.”
FanFan stepped in with a couple of slices of cake; she set a plate for each of them.
”...Uhh...Bon Appetit~”
Then, she left them alone again. Hilaria would notice that Isthar did not touch her plate at all, simply praying in silence.
Hilaria glanced at her plate but surprisingly didn't set upon it. For once, food could wait. She looked at the praying Isabella and took a deep breath. "I grow weary of this jest. Audacious are thy claims. Surely you know of this?" she wasn't going to waste her breath with a guise anymore, she was too confused and in too much pain to bother. "A millennia I have walked this Earth, ever alone. And of this thou has made it known you are aware, yet still you speak with such temerity and familiarity. I shall retire the notion that thy intention be to deceive me, but of thyself? Thy actions beget a single question, and naught more: What is it that imbues one with confidence that myself is who thou are searching for?"
The praying girl looked at Hilaria with grieving eyes.
”...What do you mean?” She took a shallow breath.
”You are...were...Helewisa. Of that there is no doubt. Or was I mistaken?”
She shrugged. She wasn't sure what the case was either.
"While I cannot claim my own memory is without fail, I do find it doubtful I could forget such an important detail relating to my very own life." she explained. "So much so, that thy claims appear as delusions, nothing more. Yet, I do not desire to deem thee as such until it is made sure there is no other explanation. Therefore, I have bidden thee to reveal what it is that causes one to suspect myself as being thy sibling."
She paused. Perhaps it was difficult to provide 'proof' of such a thing. She could easily just say 'because you look like her' or something of that nature, which would get them nowhere. "If preferred, I shall allow an alternative. Namely, I would have thee recount the tale of my supposed 'death'."
Isthar looked shocked, unable to answer at first. But then, after a deep breath, she answered:
”It’s because...I’ve seen you in my dream. I saw you turn and...and...”
She repeated the word to herself as she looked down at the table.
”...I...I can’t remember. But why? Has it been so long, I have forgotten?”
Hilaria narrowed her eyes. "You," she said. "Have you truly lived as long as I? The experience should be natural by this point." she unconsciously picked up her piece of cake and ate it in one bite. It was good, she thought, but now wasn’t the time to think of that.
Clearing her throat, however, she continued. "Does this mean that Isabella, too, has perished? No longer the woman she once claimed to be?"
Isthar’s expression turned blank, as if she had realized something.
”...Isabella...” She repeated the name. But it was in vain.
”She is...” Tears now landed on her cake, subtly softening the spongy sweet sachertorte.
”I can’t remember!” She wailed.
”She had dreams, but they are now stars in the night sky. She had feelings, but they were swept away like the eventide. There is nothing left. She is gone.”
Hilaria didn't seem impressed by the display. "Nay," she said. "A sibling would not elect to persecute they and their own. You couldn't be." she eyed the cardinal with contempt. "A crocodile's tears mean nothing to me."
Isthar gasped.
”Sibling?” At that point, something seemed to glint in her eyes. She froze, and then blinked.
”Now I remember....At the gates of Constantinople...You were tainted that day. And it was because of me. You tried to protect me, but then, you changed.”
Isthar now looked down at the table, struggling to remember as she gripped her knees.
”Back then, we believed you sold your soul to the devil, that you...forsook your oath. But now I know...It was an accident. Magic is like fire; without moderation, it can consume one’s being, twist them into something cruel and evil. And I let it happen to you, to my own sister. I let everything happen!”
She violently shoved the plate of cake aside, causing it to fall to the ground with a crack. The slice of cake spread on the marble stone; Hilaria saw glints from spots where her tears had fallen.
"Pah!" Hilaria threw up an arm. She now remembered clearly. What had transpired, and what she felt. The sense of betrayal, despair, sorrow, and rage all at once, and they renewed inside of her. "The only evil and cruel ones are they who would allow not even a second to run its course before turning on me. Beacon. My 'friends'. And you."
Isthar closed her eyes, her shaky hands clasped in prayer.
”It is true. I had sinned against you. I let you suffer for untold ages. I cannot ask for forgiveness, for I do not deserve any.” She lowered her head.
”...The only thing I can do...Is give you peace.” She stood up from her seat, and walked up to Hilaria.
She gently took hold of her Vulcan.
”...Hele...wisa....”
She lifted the barrel of the gun and pointed it to her heart.
...
”...To atone for my sins...You may take my life.”
Hilaria did not pull the trigger, she merely sat there in silence. A few seconds passed, her expression souring more and more. Eventually, she erupted.
"Such brazen ignorance!" Hilaria pulled her weapon away, causing Ishtar to reel back with a gasp. "I am not wont to entertain such foolish requests. Atonement? Enough with the hollow words. Thy true wish does not escape myself-- Thou seeks only to abandon responsibility!" She got rid of Vulcan entirely by this point. "It is trite and unsightly. Your demise does me no good," she crossed her arms. “I suspect the opposite would be true. Thy peons would set upon me after the fact.”
With the memories she regained, she couldn’t deny she shared blood with this woman. But would she call her ‘sister’? For now, she wasn’t going to bother thinking about it. She found her fury slowly dissipating. "For we who have known an eternity, fleeting emotions such as anger should not and shall not dictate our path -- they are beneath us.” she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down even more. Getting excited like this was strange to her. “This be the wisdom I would impart to thou, as an equal in this regard.” Stranger still, she almost felt like she was scolding a child.
Ishtar leaned against the wall, a hand pressed against it as she averted her eyes. When Hilaria pointed out that she would also die if she were to take her offer, she closed her eyes, and did not answer.
”...”
When Hilaria ended her speech, the praying girl lifted herself off the wall, and turned to Hilaria.
”...They are beneath us.”
Now she approached Hilaria, and clasped her hands with hers.
”It has been a long time since I have been scolded like this. It makes me feel...Young again.” A bittersweet smile subtly formed on her lips, and she sighed.
”...In that case, would you accept a purification? Beacon has learned to remove corruption out of a magical girl, and return them back to how they used to be. I know it won’t remove the pain, but...It’s the least I can do.”
"Had I only been presented such an opportunity in centuries past," Hilaria mused. "Verily, I fail to perceive the benefits of thy offer. Long since I have grown accustomed to what I have become. And faded has my desire become to return, until it decayed to nothing."
Isthar nodded, looking sad. ”I expected that answer. I won’t force you, not only because you are my sister, but because I believe that true change is achieved not by the sword, but by the heart. When you are willing to free yourself of the curse, I will be there.” She turned away.
”...But I want to ask you: what will you do now, Helewisa? Will you continue to wander the earth? Is that where your happiness is found?”
"Helewisa..." she muttered under her breath. The name sounded familiar, yet foreign, making it hard to decide on how she felt about it. Learning about your name after nearly a millennium was a unique experience.
Hi-Hel-... well, the armored girl, at least, questioned Isabella's statement. "They who follow thee fail to share the same sentiment," she spoke. "They'd sooner brandish their weapons than pen and parchment, had they their way." The girl recalled Violet's attitude in particular, her arrogance and general demeanor made it clear she'd have preferred to fight. Not exactly the best way to have a 'heart to heart'.
Isabella's next question brought to attention a rather tense subject. "Nay," she sighed. "I could be only envious of thy fortitude. I find no true happiness traveling the Earth, nor anything, save the satisfaction of a delectable meal and scrumptious sweets. These are the only forms of happiness afforded to me."
The other girl nodded; a genuine, if faint, smile appeared.
”You always were one to enjoy the simpler pleasures in life.” She closed her eyes, and slowly nodded.
”Very well. I will let you return back to the world. But, promise me that you will never forget what you’re fighting for, and to never give up on finding joy in what the future may offer.”
If it weren't for food, she would have to disappoint Isabella. As of the present, she had no hope for the future beyond a good bite to eat. But she seemed pleased, so leaving it at that was the ideal choice. "The cruel irony is that humans constantly progress towards the future, yet they've not changed at all," she said. "Wars waged for the smallest of slights. Vengeance enacted, only to beget more vengeance. Discrimination, desperation, ignorance. Ad infinitum. The tools of war are the only things that see change."
Isabella could hear the remnant of pain lacing her words as she spoke of them. "But," this seemed much lighter in tone. "Delicacies never stagnate. Though many dishes draw from another, they are improved countless times over. Each more delicious than the last." She cast a longing look at the wasted cake. "There be nothing more I presently enjoy than to experience such evolution in recipe." she looked back to Isabella. "This be the reason I roam the lands, serve those that would employ, and continue onwards. Thou needst not remind me to recall mine own purpose, fret not."
Ishtar moved up to Hilaria, and smiled.
”Thank you, Helewisa. I can’t stop the Ascendancy from coming after you from now on, but I will continue working towards a future without war, where nobody needs to go through what you have.” She gave her a small hug, and then looked into her eyes. Hilaria then felt drowzy, as she was drawn in by Ishtar’s golden gaze, and fell asleep.
”Goodbye...Helewisa...”
Later, Hilaria found herself waking in an empty apartment in her human form, not far from the spot where Billy fell. And soon enough, she would go on, as she has done for the past ten centuries.
Leena nodded, and took Celia’s hand for a friendly handshake, ignoring the argument the Djinn twins spontaneously had. “Alright, that’s settled then. Thanks for cooperating peacefully with us; it doesn’t happen too often, so we appreciate it.” She then rolled her eyes as FanFan expressed her desire for sweets.
“It’s not like actually wishing for it will cause one to just pop out of nowh-”
At that moment, the Djinn twins carried out with granting the wish with their magic, and Leena’s words froze with awe. FanFan herself gasped as she took a look inside the box, an unusual reaction from a hardened combat veteran, as the fantastic cake appeared before her eyes. Her eyes positively sparkled as she gazed upon the pastry, and she found herself licking her lips.
“Wow...I can’t believe this. It’s the cake of my dreams! You really can grant wishes! ” She made a curtsy with a wide smile.
“Thank you so much~”
Leena took a look at the cake, and then at the twins. “Well I’ll be hexed! I’ve never seen this kind of magic before. We could use that kind of magic, you know.” The Beckoner returned and made an OK sign, to which Leena gave a salute before addressing the twins.
“Would you be willing to work exclusively with Beacon? I’ll need to check in with headquarters first, but given the greenlight we could arrange for future cooperation with some capable magical girls...Even if they look a bit outlandish, heh.” She winked, and handed out a card to the twins. “Here’s the contact info for our public relations. Let’s keep in touch, ok?” She signalled to Dawn. “Teleport ready, rookie. Get in position.”
The girl who had come to receive the group blinked with a surprised expression at Ronin’s flustered reaction, though she quickly adjusted to a polite smile.
”That’s correct. I’m Jill of Jill’s Instant Deliveries~” She answered with a smile; it came off as a bit more creepy than friendly due to exposing her elongated canines. She graciously accepted the box offered to her, and nodded as she set it aside on top of a pile of packages.
”Indeed, we were expecting this package from Madam Kauppa. Thank you for delivering it; it will be delivered to its intended recipient.”
She then listened to the rest of Ronin’s story, and her eyes widened at the mention of Penrose.
”Excuse me, but did you mention Penrose?” Ronin felt like Jill’s eyes were examining her.
”...That can be arranged. And to compensate for your assistance, your group may be delivered for free.” She then opened her mouth as if to ask something, but then a strange sound happened in the room to the side. The door opened, and a
The dignified-looking girl appeared. She stepped over to the side counter where the packages were stacked, and upon noticing the group made a curtsy. Jill gestured over to her.
”May I introduce you to Stacy? She is the deliverywoman of Jill’s Instant Deliveries. These customers have requested themselves to be delivered to Penrose,” she then added, emphasizing the word of the city. Stacy’s eyes also widened.
“Oh, is that so? Very well then. Please follow me to the delivery chamber,” she spoke, gesturing to the group to follow her like a disciplined maid. Jill followed after them.
“Um, Mistress-”
”I will be accompanying you, to...personally see that you are delivered safely,” she added, causing Stacy to be silenced, only nodding in response. Ronin could tell it was a thinly-veiled excuse.
“Now then, please hold your hands together in a circle,” Stacy advised, before she took Jill’s and Valkyrie’s hands. She then closed her eyes, and in an instant Ronin and Amanda felt themselves moving through space.
The very next moment, the two girls opened their eyes, and found themselves standing at the snow-covered rooftop of a train station. They saw Penrose in the wintery night, and how desolate it has become since their last visit. They saw how the few civilians still lingering in the nearly-dead city moved briskly through the streets, looking over their shoulders. In the distance, the sound of a siren could be heard, only to be covered by the howling cold winds.
Jill was shocked, as was Stacy, the both of them silent as they gazed across the landscape.
”By Father’s blood...” Jill whispered.
”What happened here?”
“It looks like it has been struck by ferocious monster attacks,” Stacy answered.
Jill’s hands balled into fists, her teeth showing in an expression of anger.
”This is Lily’s home. Did something happen to her? Who-”
She then blinked, as if having realized something.
”Wait...There is one person in Penrose who could have done this.”
Stacy lifted a hand to her mouth in shock. “Do you mean-” Jill stopped her with a lift of her finger to her lips. She glanced towards a distant camera. Stacy nodded, and with a simple spell shifted the camera’s location just enough that the group was no longer in view without causing a noticeable difference in the camera feed.
Jill nodded.
”I’m sure of it. Only she would have the power and resources to accomplish destruction this widespread. The presence of cameras is proof she is still operating in the area; she is the paranoid type...And for good reason.” Her eyes slowly drifted to one person in the group: Ronin.
”You...You’re no longer under her employ, correct? You no longer carry the filthy form your former mistress fancied.” Her eyes glowed red in the dark night, and her lips curved into a sinister smile.
Whether Ronin wanted it or not…
”You will help me find her...Mariette Pedersen...The Reflective Witch.”
The final boss has joined Ronin’s party.
The ghost twins giggled at the Casper reference, and circled Eliza.
“I think Casper is Richie Rich’ ghost!” Jillian joked. “And he was killed to pay for her parent’s debts after wasting all their money!”
Helga held the stone for a long time up to her ear as Eliza went to discuss private matters in the hotel’s restaurant, hoping the Friendship Stone’s magic would reach Su. But in the end, her hopes were dashed. The stone slipped from her hands, and hit the carpeted floor of the hotel with a softened thud. “What a piece of crap...” She muttered. “And I paid real coins for it!” She kicked the stone, and 0.001 ms later regretted her decision, hopping up and down holding her foot.
“Ow ow ow ow!”
After she calmed down, she looked over to Emily, a faint smile managing to form in her wincing expression. “One...Bronze coin...please...ow.” After the money was exchanged, she handed the key to Emily.
“Have a pleasant stay at the Golden Trove!” She stated in a polite, friendly tone...And then sighed; she couldn’t suppress her worries over Su’s wellbeing.
Brittany had returned back to the shop, looking absolutely devastated. She sighed as she flipped the sign back to “OPEN”, and dragged herself back to behind the counter, her elbows resting on it as she pondered about the events at the Pit Stop.
‘Poor Sammy...I’ll need help in rescuing her. But I can’t post on Glimmr. Hmm...I’ll need to think about a strategy. And while I’m at it, might as well continue running the shop. Who knows, maybe someone comes in who could lend a hand.‘ With higher spirits than when she arrived, she managed a smile.
‘Hang in there, Sammy...I’ll come save you, if it’s the last thing I’ll do!‘
