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TO Rewrite: B3 — 12. The Tortoise and the Hare
🕑 Added 2024-10-01 22:24:01 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Rachel (Our Lunar Hare!)
2. Fiona White (Our Little Fairy!)
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The light platform beneath Rachel rose slowly, Green checking the security of her braid across from her on the generous stage they’d been given. Of course, Nia handled all of that for her, and the little bun was technically a part of her soul, being equipment and a person. If she used Nia too much then it may become a more serious fight then it needed to be. Plus, it would be good to leave her outfit out of the spotlight.
A hush fell over the field when they stopped at shoulder-level of those present, Green taking a defensive posture. Rachel’s cocky smirk grew, hammer casually slung over her shoulders as the light barrier overhead faded over the stage to allow the thickening flakes to blanket them.
“Looks like we’re about to be the first legal showcase of a sports competition between those who changed.”
“Looks that way,” Green mumbled, the tension in her shoulders giving away what she felt. Without a doubt, she knew from the reports if she were serious, Rachel could end this with a snap of her fingers, but that was only with what most would consider ‘hacks’ instead of her base abilities. “I get you have way more benefactors than I do but you’re not the only one who has been fighting for your life.”
Ouch! she internally snickered. Calling me out for having Divine Feats, a Living Denier outfit, super busted moons, and the Personification of Victory chilling in my soul? Fair enough… I don’t plan to use most of those. This isn’t a ‘real’ fight, after all…unless you want to make it that. Where’s [The Scales of Karma: Power] at against her… 5%. Well, that’s bound to change as I let myself be disadvantaged. I love this energy, Green!
Rachel flexed her fingers against the shaft of her weapon, the weight of her spiked hammer resting easily against her shoulder with the eyes of the world on them. Snowflakes touched them again, catching the light in an almost cinematic way, making her chuckle.
“The Atlanta crew definitely are trying to show off outside of their turn. Must be wrestling fans and want this to look like a pay-per-view match,” she mused, her gaze lifting to the white sky as drones collected and projected hologram images of them for all to see the fight. “You know a lot more about me than I’ve learned about you… I’m looking forward to knowing you better through experience,” she grinned.
“I think I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” the older woman whispered.
“Good. Uh…” Ears shifting to the left, her eyes followed them to the state senator. “I know you already said fight, Senator, but the stage wasn’t fully ready yet.”
The man laughed as the holograms, cameras, and onlookers turned toward the man as he adjusted his scarf and returned to the podium. “I suppose this is unscripted, so there are bound to be some hiccups but that is what makes this so genuine.”
He paused for a moment, puffing out a long, visible stream of air while looking out across the sea of faces within the light barrier and a giant hologram was generated above him. The statesman shook his head with a wry expression that asked what the world had come to.
Rachel almost rolled her eyes while spotting one of the reporters chewing gum in one of the media boxes. Astra’s really going all out with these drones. Now all that talk he was doing about betting and promoting that underground website. The Scarlet Hand must be begging for funds. After all, Scarlet’s billions are ‘liquid’ and not including capital transferred to her. Yet, with Astra, it won’t be that hard to rebuild.
“People of the world,” John Daines proclaimed. “In one corner, we have the Omen CEO, muay Thai expert, and Lunar Hare Mythickin, Rachel Park, while in the opposing corner, we have the Fable executive and former US marine, karate expert, and the Tortoise and the Hare Fablekin, Green. Bets have been placed, smack given, and tensions raised…”
Rachel’s ears rose at the introduction. Karate expert? Well, that’s interesting…and why did she get one more title than me! C’mon, Senator… It’s not like Green, Red, or Black will join Omen over this but it’s good hype.
Green stood across from her, shield in hand, the tortoise-shell glinting with a dull sheen. Her eyes narrowed, that competitive fire lighting a mirror flame within Rachel, but she could sense more beneath the surface—an undercurrent of tension. Whether it was from their previous encounters or something else, it didn’t matter. Right now, Green wanted to win. Rachel could respect that.
The crowd stirred, whispers and murmurs growing louder, anticipating the clash as they waited for the senator’s word. Rachel shifted her stance, loosening her muscles, and brought her hammer down in a slow arc, the weight of it negated in her grip. The senator’s voice ringing out for all to hear.
“Fight!”
Green firmed her ground as Rachel calmly stepped to the side to circle her, the woman moving in lock-step footsteps syncing like a dance. [Beastial Instincts] left Rachel feeling somewhat unbothered, knowing she had the edge, yet that could change with the smallest action, the threads of misfortune weaving around her—it might be even more advantageous to lose this, depending on where the dice landed.
[Mental Acceleration] and [Strategic Mind] made the woman’s footsteps a crawl to her vision, the sounds of the world slowing with their predictions. The way Green’s muscles coiled beneath her skin fed to her sharp ears, the pressure she exerted on her shield, increasing ever so slightly—everything about her stance screamed defense, patience.
Waiting for me to make the first move? How unexpected compared to your previous fire… Not bad, Green. You’re not dumb and are playing to your strengths instead of rushing in… Karate, the defense and counter attacks, hmm?
Tail going stiff and ears softening, ready to fly back upon a burst of speed, Rachel let her hammer slide down to its end with a short laugh. “Scared already, Green? I thought you wanted to prove yourself to Black and Red…but I can make the first move.”
The moment Green opened her mouth, Rachel launched forward, the shield rising to meet her. At the last second, Rachel stepped to the side, feinting a low strike with her hammer before pulling back at the last second. Green moved quickly, her shield flashing as she angled it to block, but Rachel was already gone, darting to the opposite side, yet a sudden burst of speed allowed the woman’s barrier to block the strike.
Fast enough to keep up, huh? Rachel grinned, testing her with a series of probing normal jabs and slams, her hammer glancing off Green’s shield as she circled around her solid defense. Nia, if I use [Lunar Grace], keep me topped off from Coral’s Pool. I need everything [Divine Lunar Surge] can give me!
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am, sugar ears!”
Rachel didn’t pursue that last bit from the bun when Green didn’t take the bait, the soldier’s stance solid, waiting for an opening rather than over extending herself. Yet, with every blow, the crystal indicators on the shaft of her weapon grew brighter, storing kinetic energy.
“Come on, Green,” Rachel called out, her voice carrying over the wind she generated while flipping around the woman and gathering data. “You’re not going to win this if you just stand there and hide behind that shell… Nice reflexes, though. Don’t think I didn’t notice!”
Her reflexes are sharper now than they were at the start… No, there’s a lapse, by half a second, but that reposition wasn’t as smooth. There’s a method to her reaction time. I’d expect nothing less from a fellow hare. Oh?
Green’s eyes narrowed, and she lunged forward, her shield a blur as she swung it wide in a counterattack. Rachel leaped back, just out of range, her feet skimming the edge of the platform. The crowd gasped as Green followed up with a sharp strike with the edge of her shell, aimed at Rachel’s midsection, but Rachel’s knee instinctively rose to flip it back up—her momentum cut in half.
Oh? Wait… Rachel sucked in her belly and did a sideward backbend, the sharp edge gliding over her belly as she flipped around to kick her legs out. Kinetic force absorption or negation? Important difference…
Her sweeping leg met air as the woman launched into a Barani, twisting to land and face her, shield raised. Rachel responded by smoothly righting herself and twisted her hammer in the air to snatch with her other hand behind her back, tapping it against the floor with a hum.
“Quick reflexes when needed when I speed up, defense is on point, and some kinetic shenanigans… Someone has read my profile.”
Green’s smile grew. “I expected impressive speed, and you would be more than accustomed to using your knees or elbows to strike, but that flexibility and body control is…phenomenal. I didn’t expect you to make it out of that without using some kind of ability. Was that a bait?”
Rachel’s body shook with silent laughter as she stretched out more, using her hammer to balance at some points in her movements to keep even with Green. “You give me too much credit. I have fought someone with kinetic absorption abilities, though… Don’t you think it’s more exciting to reveal your Feats to the world to judge?”
“What?”
Green’s eyes widened slightly while glancing toward the camera and salivating onlookers. Got you! What’s with that break in concentration? Don’t perform well under observation, Greenie, or just when judgment is pointed out?!
Time slowing, Rachel shot forward as a blur, doubling her speed and putting more strength behind her blow. Green firmed her ground, her ears flattening and eating it as if the blow was any of her weaker strikes—a flash of light illuminated the shell before it faded.
Rachel could see the gears turning in her head as she recovered, her resolve returned, yet, it faltered when her hammer vanished in a pulse of light. Smile growing, Rachel lunged forward, lowering herself to the ground further than Green to apply the constant force to shove her upward.
And then, just as Rachel touched the shell to press her advantage, Green’s shield glowed with a faint emerald light, and suddenly, it was pulled away like a viper. Green was a blur, and Rachel locked in as the edge moved at lightning speed to slam against her unprotected side.
Too fast—
A pulse of light brought her hammer between them at an angle, her fingers barely having enough time to press the activation on the shaft. An explosion of kinetic energy erupted between them, sending snow billowing around them—Green didn’t move, hammer and shield touching.
Rachel’s smile faded as she leaped back, repositioning while keeping the silvery-blue-haired woman in sight. Yet, her wide field of vision caught one unusual detail that stood out to her like a bent nail.
Why is the snow moving at normal speed? Rachel’s eyes widened as Green’s confidence smile returned and she shot toward her like a rocket. Time manipulation? Wow! So that’s your game.
The effect was subtle, barely noticeable at first. Green’s movements were more precise, more controlled, and her strikes came faster than before—no, she was moving slower. It wasn’t a full stop, but enough to give her the edge in reaction time.
Rachel laughed under her breath, adjusting her stance to compensate; Rachel put more strength into her muscles, ramping up her pace to near 30% of going all out. It would be better not to point out that ability to the public. Plus, if this was her tortoise ability, what about the hare side of her fable?
“You’re really pulling out all the stops, huh?”
“Says the woman who tried to blow my arms off.”
“And you tried to cut me in half, so let’s call it even!”
Green’s shield glowed green again for half a second as it hit her shield, the strike making Rachel’s smile grow when the falling snow fell slightly slower and the woman smirked, “Can you keep up?”
“Okay, so that’s how it is?” Pushing into the 40% range, a surge of adrenaline pumped into her veins. “I like it! Let’s play.”
Her body moved faster, dodging Green’s shield bashes with fluid precision, not making contact and watching her environment—with every passing second, time was speeding back up.
So it’s ramping? Good. I want to see the limits of your power. How much can you slow me before you have to come up with a new trick?
Her hammer blurred as it danced through the air. For every strike Green landed, Rachel felt the world speeding up around her, yet [Strategic Mind] and [Mental Acceleration] kept her two steps ahead in positioning, predicting her next move.
“This game of yours is cute, but I’ve got better reflexes, Greenie.”
Rachel’s eyes darted to the falling snow, feeling the chill against her skin. Are my Tenacity substats weakening? I’m at 60% now—62%.
She picked up her pace, sensing the crowd’s excitement building. The anticipation grew with every clash of metal and word they shared booming from the drones overhead. Rachel’s thoughts were totally focused on her confident opponent, though.
No, not weakening…absorbed. Slow and steady wins the race, is it? she mused. 65%...and wait, there’s the frown. Is that it? 70%! Can you keep up?
Green grunted in frustration as her shield met air, then again and again, her time manipulation now reversing. Rachel hummed a tune of a song, the woman’s defense impregnable but now unable to push her further. Still, she occasionally renewed the time dilation with a hammer to shield strike.
“What’s wrong? Too slow?” Rachel taunted, landing a glancing blow that almost struck Green’s shoulder, ripping her reinforced combat uniform sleeve clean off as a spike snagged it. “Best to speed up…because I’m about to!”
Green growled, glowing lime-green eyes burning with determination. “I’m just getting started.”
“Good,” Rachel returned, her grin widening. “Because so am I.”
The snow began to fall heavier now, swirling around them in a flurry of white. The barrier around them shimmered, amplifying the scene for the audience, and Rachel tuned out the collective gasp as the stage became a snow-globe of chaos.
She could feel the Lunar Energy building within her, her skin and white aura brightening, thanks to Nia’s steady supply from Coral’s converted force, but she held back for now. There was no need to go all out yet. This was just the beginning. For now, she would let Green think she had the upper hand.
“Let’s move this to the next level,” Rachel said, her voice low as a small, white platform materialized below her feet, [Lunar Grace] pushing her upward into the veil.
Flipping around, she landed against another platform upside down, tensing her legs to launch back at the woman, following the ripples of airwaves to her opponent. Rachel jumped, emerging through the flurry in a cyclone to find Green circling around. She wasn’t fast enough.
Rachel laughed while flicking her wrist, a shot of kinetic energy exploding from the opposite side of her hammer for the pointed back to strike the jade barrier that materialized to protect the woman. Green’s eyes widened as cracks spiderwebbed down her barrier, barely getting her tortoise shell up in time to meet the spear-like end, the force taking her to one knee.
The crowd roared, their cheers echoing through the snowy field. Momentum cutting, Rachel used another lunar disk to do a backflip, landing on the light platform and doing a back swing to fling the weapon at the recovering Fable.
“What was—really, Rachel?!”
Rachel showed an innocent smile and shot forward as the hammer bounced off of the shell and vanished in a pulse of light, putting her all into her muscles.
“I expected more from Fable’s top hare. Watch out for projectiles! Hehe. Your effects are weakening, and I’m picking up the pace!”
Green’s eyes flashed with determination, and Rachel could see the shift in her posture as her shield vanished and she took on a stance, her large ears straightened. She was done holding back, as well—karate vs muay Thai.
Wind whipping past Rachel, feeling the time dilation gradually returning to normal, yet that wouldn’t be for long, she was sure.
The snow fell steadily now, the thick, cold flakes catching the lights as they descended in slow, deliberate patterns. Rachel stood on opposite sides of the platform as Green, shaking out her chilly limbs, the biting frost was starting to set in with her weakened resistances.
Weapon now dismissed, ready for the real fight, Rachel eased closer—their fists, elbows, knees, and feet would do the talking, just how she liked it. The crowd murmured and Rachel snickered at the shifting bets passing between hands, many holding their breath as they inched closer, waiting to see who would make the first move.
Rachel’s muscles coiled like springs, her eyes narrowing as she shifted into a muay Thai stance. Legs slightly bent, arms raised, she bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, her weight distributed evenly, ready to strike or defend at a moment’s notice. It had been almost a month since she had a legitimate martial arts sparring match.
Her world shrank to the feel of the platform beneath her and the rhythm of her own pulse, keeping every twitch of the military woman in her sight.
“Let’s see what karate you got, Green,” she taunted, throwing out a few test jabs while trying to keep her blood circulating. “I’m getting faster by the second.”
Green mirrored Rachel’s intensity, but her stance was more measured—karate’s trademark precision clear in the way she positioned herself. Her feet were set, one slightly in front of the other, her hands raised, ready to deflect or counter.
Classic karate. All about waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Rachel tested the waters first. She darted forward, her leg snapping out in a sharp low kick aimed at Green’s legs. Green sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow in an abrupt burst of speed—likely time manipulation on her side—and responded with a lightning-fast punch to Rachel’s ribs. It was far more precise and sharp for her previous actions, but not enough to throw Rachel off balance…yet
“Fast,” Rachel muttered, a grin playing on her lips. She stepped back, just in time to avoid another strike, watching it in slow motion with the help of [Mental Acceleration] before returning fire with a flurry of elbow strikes aimed at Green’s upper body.
Each strike came in rapid succession, powerful and fluid, designed to overwhelm. Green was quick to react, but only at uneven intervals, forcing Rachel to attempt to switch up her own pace. The military woman used her forearms to block the blows, absorbing the force but stepping back to create distance. She spun, delivering a side kick aimed at her midsection.
Rachel dropped her elbow just in time, deflecting the kick, but the force of it pushed her back a step—it was in perfect form, but had far more power behind it than she’d expected—she’d swapped styles to her hare fable, which meant a whole new ballgame, and she was here for it.
The sharpness of the karate techniques were undeniable—precise, efficient, every move calculated to minimize waste and maximize damage.
It’s not talk. Well, I should step up my game then!
She surged forward, she used a lunar disk to close the gap faster and at an uneven angle, giving her just the right pace switch to deliver a rapid knee to Green’s side. The blow connected solidly, forcing Green to grunt and wince before lowering her arm to guard against any following onslaught—her defenses were weaker.
Rachel pressed the advantage, throwing in another knee aimed at Green’s ribs—blocked—followed by an elbow targeting her head. Green shielded herself from the elbow, but not without effort as she was pushed back.
The Fable retaliated with a swift jab aimed at Rachel’s jaw to stop her momentum. Rachel ducked under the punch, shifting her body fluidly as she stepped into a clinch, her arms snaking around Green’s neck—this was where muay Thai shone—where elbows and knees could do their brutal work up close.
“Got you!”
Green struggled, trying to break free, but Rachel wouldn’t let up, pulling her in tighter, knees already rising for another devastating blow. However, before Rachel could land it, Green twisted sharply, using her momentum to escape the clinch and shoving her back in her escape.
“Don’t be so cocky just because you got a hit in.”
“Nice. Nice,” Rachel remarked, shaking out her arms as she resumed her stance, ready for more. “But you have to do better than that, bun.” Green’s eyes narrowed, and Rachel could see the shift in her posture. “Okay. Okay. Show me what you’ve got!” she urged, motioning her forward.
The next exchange came fast and hard. Green advanced this time, the snow speeding up and flurrying where she stepped. Her fists flew in quick, sharp jabs, each one aimed at her head and torso. Rachel could still follow each one, though, blocking the first few punches, her arms moving in sync with her footwork, but Green’s speed was increasing.
Rachel’s smile grew. Karate’s strength is in its speed and accuracy…but every block I make she’s getting faster. Is that the trick? My reaction speed is better, off base, I’d say, and [Mental Acceleration] gives me a huge advantage. She’s got more experience, which is helping her keep up with my faster pace, but eventually, she’s going to even out until she lands a blow.
Embracing the challenge, she ducked under a high punch and retaliated with a brutal low kick aimed at Green’s knee. Green did a quick side step, but Rachel was already moving again, spinning into an elbow strike aimed at Green’s temple.
This time, Green didn’t dodge, shocking her—she stepped into the blow—her arm rising to block the strike, then followed up with a swift front kick to Rachel’s chest. The impact knocked the breath out of her lungs, forcing her back, but she didn’t fall.
“Not bad, Greenie,” Rachel huffed, shaking off the sting of the blow as she moved back into position. Her eyes gleamed while rubbing the area, the adrenaline pumping through her veins. “I like your kit. It’s unique. I can see the potential. Let’s take it up another notch, shall we?”
Without warning, a pulse of white light surrounded her as she disappeared in a blur, and reappeared behind the Fable in the same instant: [Lunar Grace]. Her fist was already aimed at Green’s exposed kidney; if she landed that, then the following blows would end the fight.
However, at that exact moment a jade pulse exploded from Green’s body, halting Rachel in her tracks. The snow around them stopped falling and all sound died, time itself frozen. The entire platform was engulfed in the light, freezing them both in place. And then, Green turned slowly, her eyes locking onto Rachel’s, a smirk on her lips.
“I was waiting for when you’d try that,” Green whispered, her voice cutting through the silence. “No escapes now.”
Laughter rolled through Rachel as the balance of power shifted and the woman aimed a crushing blow at her throat.
[The Scales of Karma: Power - 100%]
[Activated]
A smile crept onto her face as the ornate scales appeared in her left hand, shimmering with a divine glow, and she leaped back, evading the attack.
“What?!”
“Let the scales be balanced,” Rachel said softly, her voice carrying through the frozen air.
Green’s smirk faltered as the jade light began to crack. The locked space started to unravel around them, the snow falling once more as Rachel broke free of the temporal hold. She moved with lightning speed, her fist aimed squarely at Green’s throat in her momentary lapse in focus.
The Fable barely had time to react, her eyes widening in shock as the scales in Rachel’s hand tipped. The jade shield around her cracked, splintering into fragments before shattering completely. Yet, in a surge of rapidly dispersing air, she launched back to evade just as Rachel’s knuckles kissed her skin.
Clapping erupted from the sidelines as the senator’s voice rang out. “That’s enough!”
Rachel lowered her fist, the scales disappearing from her hand as she stepped back. The crowd’s cheers filled the air, their excitement palpable as the match came to a close.
Green staggered, catching her breath as she rubbed her neck where Rachel’s fist had nearly connected. A genuine smile spread across her face as she walked toward her, extending her hand.
“Thanks for the sparring match, Rachel,” she muttered, her voice still a bit winded. “I learned a lot about myself today. I can see why Black respects you so much and Red said you had some insane powers. Mythickin aren’t to be trifled with.”
Rachel smiled back, meeting Green’s hand with her own. “Oh, I’m an exception to the rule, trust me. That being said, you’ve got an impressive skill set. White’s got a good eye for talent.” She held up a fist for Green to bump after they broke contact. “Come find me later. We’ll talk in private. You’re way better than just a warmup, by the way. Brrr! That Passive you have is killer!”
Green chuckled, bumping Rachel’s fist before stepping back, and Rachel took a deep breath, rubbing her shoulders as the chill set in.
The showcase finished, she turned to face the cameras to deliver one last blow against the hearts of the public. Her grin shifted into something playful, cute, and innocent, knowing exactly how to disarm the crowd and public.
“That’s all, folks!” she called out, winking before leaping into the snowstorm, using her lunar platforms to glide gracefully back to Nia, who was still munching on popcorn.
Let that be the media’s clipped moment. I’m sure Mom will save it… Why do I do these things to myself? It’s for strategy! It has to be… Is that cope or do I just want the attention? I can’t tell anymore.
* — * — *
Fiona fluttered nervously by the side of the SUVs, her wings trembling with each beat as the cold, smoggy air nipped at her skin. Selvaria had finally been allowed to guzzle water from the airport's emergency hose—something she had insisted on in her dramatic fashion. Now, rehydrated, she looked like she was in her mid-teens, sort of, an improvement from the near-dead state she had been in before.
Still, as Selvaria squeezed into the back middle seat of the vehicle, her spikes tore through the cushions with a soft rip. The car rocked and creaked under her weight, much to the dismay of the agents who had to share the ride. Fiona glanced over, her lips pressed into a tight line, trying not to laugh.
“You’re going to ruin the seats, Selv,” she whispered. “Never mind… Too late.”
Selvaria groaned, barely managing to fold her arms over her ample form without bumping into anyone. “Better than dying. Besides,” she added with a side glance, “I needed this. Can’t risk shrinking back into kid form again. That was…yikes!”
Cahira took the front passenger side with a wide grin and without permission. “Aye, if it were up to me, they’d have let ye drink straight from the fire hydrant. Nothin’ like a bit of adventure, right? Who knows what they be havin’ in them things these days, at least, accordin’ to the conspiracy theorists. Ya might find them storin’ golden liquid, eh!”
The agent sitting next to her shifted uncomfortably as Cahira pulled a flask from somewhere behind her back. “Rum?” she offered with a teasing smile, waving it in front of him. “Ooh. I see that look, honey bun! How about a little inspection? You can check it out thoroughly. Maybe take me somewhere private, just the two of us?”
Fiona cringed. “Cahira, please stop making things weird.”
“I’m just tryin’ to get everyone to loosen up!” Cahira shot back with a wink, shaking the flask in Fiona’s direction now. “Maybe a nice sugary wine for the little lassie? Maria said it’d calm those nerves,” she sang.
“Liar!” Fiona’s cheeks flushed as she shook her head. “I—I don’t know what alcohol will do to me. Maria wanted me to try it once, but…I’m a little scared to try.”
Selvaria leaned her head back, her spiky and plated form still making the SUV groan under the pressure of sitting next to the leviathan. “If I were you, I wouldn’t trust that butt-lady, Fi. She gave me something once… I don’t even remember what happened after. Just woke up in the ocean.”
Cahira’s laugh was a raspy chuckle as she twisted to face them, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Aye, it was in a cabin, love, not the ocean! Ye practically cleaned out her stock, Selvie! Couldn’t keep up with that bottomless belly of yours. It was like a storm at sea—tossed and turned until we had nothin’ left!”
“Not my fault,” Selvaria grumbled, though the faintest of smiles tugged at her lips at causing the redhead troublemaker some problems. “You should’ve prepared better. Endless belly, endless thirst—leviathan—kind of in the nametag. Woah!”
The SUV lurched suddenly, causing Fiona to gasp and brace herself against the door. Her heart was already pounding with nerves, and the unsettling feeling of being targeted by the government didn’t help.
Fiona sat atop the middle cushion as Anthony took the right seat. As they started to pull away from the airport, a man appeared in the empty left seat, his body passing through the cushion a bit before righting itself.
Selvaria blinked, wide-eyed, before reaching over and running her hand through the man’s shoulder. “He’s an AI! An AI! Can he be inserted into people’s heads? Can I get my own personal assistant?”
The ghostly figure turned, giving her a dull, unimpressed look, while Anthony, Cahira, and Fiona broke into laughter. Anthony was the first to regain his composure.
“No, Selv, this is Merlin. He’s a magician and our man of contact.”
Selvaria huffed, clearly unimpressed. “Merlin’s cool in anime, I guess. An AI personal assistant in your head is cooler. What does the magic man want with us?”
Merlin’s ghostly form flickered for a moment, before he leaned back in the seat and spoke with a short laugh that showed a lighter side to the intimidating elder. Although, if what Rachel said was true, he could change his appearance at will.
“Well, aren’t you a riot? You’re being taken to a safehouse. We have intelligence that suggests Fiona is being targeted by the Scarlet Hand.”
Fiona’s heart skipped a beat, her wings stiffening, and the blood rushed to her face. “M-Me? Specifically? Why? What did I do? Scarlet and Rach are the ones they want.”
Merlin’s expression softened slightly, though his form remained ethereal and detached. “We don’t know the full extent of it yet. All we know is that it’s not safe to discuss it here. Once we reach the safehouse, you’ll be briefed. There are a few things that…could make your stay here complicated.”
Selvaria crossed her arms, grumbling in her monotone voice, “Tell us something new. Oh. Does the safehouse have a pool…and anime subscription service?”
Merlin sighed and conjured a tablet out of thin air before somehow handing it back to her. “No, but write down your reasonable wants here.”
The sea dragon groaned, throwing her head back in dismay before accepting it. “No pool? Booo. Then…oh, first item… You better bring a truck full of fish in water.”
The agents in the car exchanged bewildered glances, one of them raising an eyebrow at Merlin. He tilted his head as if to ask, ‘Is she serious?’
Fiona, Cahira, and Anthony exchanged looks, then nodded their heads in unison.
Cahira smirked and chimed in with a pirate’s drawl. “Aye, ye’d best heed the lass’ words. When the lass says fish, she means fish. A storm brews if her belly’s not filled!”
Fiona couldn’t help but smile, despite the tension hanging in the air. Cahira’s antics, as ridiculous as they were, were becoming somewhat normal. Was that a good thing? She didn’t quite know yet but she seemed to have a good heart under her provocative attire and attitude.
However, Fiona’s thoughts kept circling back to Merlin’s warning. The Scarlet Hand…is targeting me? I don’t have time for this! Although, I mean, they’re based here right now, as far as we know…which isn’t good. But why me?
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Comments
Opala
🐇⚖🐢 🐉🚙
SME
Yeah, some real side-eyes there >.> what is the SH up to?
Andy
Why Fiona? I'm guessing she has some sort of connection to the world tree, judging from the previous chapter. Thanks for the chapter
