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TO Rewrite: B2 — 3. Soul Vulnerability
🕑 Added 2023-12-03 21:51:31 +0000 UTCAuthor Note: I went through with Val and edited the chapter; Val has been busy with parenting stuff, so they've been unable to get to some of the last few chapters. Just some clarifications of things and grammar stuff.
PoV:
1. Rachel Park (Our Recovering Lunar Hare!)
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Engaging with the four-star general and three Legends throughout dinner, Rachel listened carefully to every twitch their muscles made, Nia handling the broader surroundings. Small pieces of information were passed between them, and every new topic gave her further insight into these highly influential figures.
In the remaining fifteen minutes of their isolated field, she probed for further facts regarding the three governments and what each faction wanted from her or what she could provide. She was an outsider to this larger, geopolitical stage, yet had accomplished her initial goal of having a seat at this table, which was something to be proud of, given she’d only been a first-year law student before.
That being said, most of her leverage came from external forces, such as fickle deities and knowledge, which, once learned, severely diminished her overall bargaining power. There was far more to be gained from this meeting; she just needed to pay close attention to the finer details passed between the three nations, specifically France’s angle, since Charlemagne’s goals were still murky.
Russia was going through a massive underground war between Legendkin figures of its past, much like the rest of the world, and it was impossible to know how the northern bear’s government would be reorganized or how much of a threat they’d be. Tom seemed to believe Russia would split into small nations based on the support each faction could gather, and a cold civil war might break out.
As for China, neither the US, France, nor the UK knew what was actually happening since much of the internal affairs had been locked down, including the countrywide firewall that isolated China’s internet traffic. No communication had made it out until earlier this morning, which had Tom on edge and piqued her curiosity.
Rachel’s gut tightened at the prospect of what might happen in Asia as the general laid out what information they knew about the most powerful nation in the region. South Korea had a massive amount of US support right now with the potential conflict that could arise from its northern counterpart, yet luckily, things seemed relatively stable for her parents’ homeland.
How long that peace lasted could drastically change at the drop of a hat since South Korea had very long and tense relations with Japan. If that wasn’t enough, the current political uprising within the island nation could cause a lot of Koreans concern.
The imperial family and prominent historical revolutionaries were gaining widespread traction as they took to social media to spread their messages about rekindling their glory as a nation. The youth appeared especially receptive to the concept of a culture change, either returning to past heights or forging a new one.
On the other hand, as of today, the most powerful governing body in Asia had apparently stepped down from its seat of power. Rachel had to focus on that bit of news, and even Charlemagne and Arthur were blindsided by the general’s intelligence.
“There’s no shot,” Rachel mumbled, setting down her fork and staring at the sober general. “All spies from France, the UK, and the US go missing, no communication in or out for weeks, technology over the area is blocked, and now, spontaneously, the Chinese Communist Party has ceded their state power? It doesn’t make sense; it’s the CCP, for crying out loud.”
Tom sipped at his wine and rolled around his neck. “The director of central intelligence dropped it on us this morning, and he believes the leak was intentional since our spy gave a coded message with it that indicated the agency branch was compromised.”
“To whom?” Rachel asked. “How does that even happen in this day and age? You’re saying someone conquered China in the past three weeks and installed their own government, all while dismantling foreign spy resources in the nation?”
“Exactly,” the general mumbled. “We don’t know what to make of it… but what we do know is that only this video has been able to come out of Beijing, using a sat-link to a US satellite before the origin point went dark… and it came from inside the Forbidden City. There are some insane technological barriers around China’s entire network, as well.”
He slid over his phone for them to look at the video he started, the volume muted as he explained; dozens upon dozens of people kneeled in a giant room, where the golden Dragon Throne sat, situated on its dais.
Standing at its foot was a beautiful, black-haired woman, her thick locks pulled into a high ponytail. Her white, red-trimmed shenyi outfit instantly snatched Nia’s attention as she radiated power. Expressing an imperial presence with raw orange energy encircling her, the woman didn’t speak a word. At the base of the dais was the CCP chairman, on his knees and addressing the camera.
Tom’s voice was low as Rachel studied the figure; no doubt, this woman was a Legendkin who had completed her Legend Quest. “This is a formal address to the Chinese people from the CCP’s chairman, where the party has yielded its authority to this woman that he identifies as… Empress Wu Zetian, First Empress of China.”
Charlemagne rubbed his chin while observing the simple yet elegant outfit the empress wore. “An ominous turn for such a powerful nation, and in less than a month after this change. I’ll have to reach out.”
Arthur ran his fingers through his blond hair before leaning back. “I am more focused on the same not happening to the UK with the Legends of past monarchies looking to take the stage, and that doesn’t include Ireland or Scotland starting a war.”
“If only that were the half of it,” Tom mumbled, letting Rachel study the video, the Legend of Empress Wu sitting on the throne. “India may see a return to the caste system, while Pakistan and Iran are dealing with a huge influx of insurgencies.
“Israel has its own internal strife that is being handled surprisingly well, but they are consolidating their power with the Arab coalition calling for a rise to war… but that doesn’t seem likely with the conflicts happening in each nation, Egypt especially. We aren’t even talking about Germany’s past leadership that’s no doubt working in its underbelly and Italy’s unrest.”
He rubbed between his eyes. “Which you have a vested interest in, Charlemagne, since you were born in Germany, despite your current French activities.”
Rachel’s ears flew up. “Wait, you’re actually German?”
“In der Tat,” the dark-haired man replied in a perfect accent before returning to his refined French between a sip of his wine. “I have contacts and affiliations far outside of France, yet it is where I am primarily located. The National Socialist German Workers’ Party and their other Nazi affiliates are a concern amongst many groups, which is why they have all stayed quite below the radar. How goes things from grievances from your country’s past troubles, General?”
Tom sucked in his lips before smacking them and downing a large portion of his glass. “Native Americans or other tribes of South America, North America, and Canada are holding giant rallies at this time, but we’re getting ahead of it due to the quick information provided to us by Rachel. We were able to act quickly. Although…
“Something I somewhat overlooked was the various racist and cult groups that would rear their heads or start moving in the shadows. Overall, they’re minor compared to what other nations are dealing with. It is being handled as quietly as possible, and they aren’t as widespread as some of the other movements in other nations… with the exception of South America, where things are escalating.”
“A world in turmoil,” Rachel sighed, handing his phone back. “It looks like we’re out of time.”
The last grains of sand trickled out of the hourglass; it flashed a light blue before cracking and spilling its contents. Their isolation field was drained, and their thirty minutes were up. Rayla, their server and Merlin’s spy, promptly cleaned it up; no one in the restaurant even seemed to have noticed their private bubble.
Silence passed between them as they thought about the sobering topics they’d discussed. Rachel’s thoughts were still on the colossal change happening in China.
She’d been proud of how quickly she’d been able to consolidate her power and connections, yet there was always someone else to give you a run for your money; Empress Wu had to be close to her level, but she’d managed to take command over arguably the third or second most powerful nation in the world.
Nia’s narrowed eyes darted to her. “I’m hearing a lot of talk from people around DC about this place called China, and how no word has come out. People are worried about loved ones. Is it really that big of a deal if this woman takes sole control?”
Who knows? Rachel whispered, spotting Rayla return to the kitchen to bring out their dinner. We may be able to get answers tonight. For now, let’s try to enjoy ourselves.
The discussion turned more personal as Tom asked about the Knights of the Round, snatching Rachel’s attention; it became much of the topic for the remainder of the meal. Arthur had called the men who used to serve under him in the military to gather. He was rallying his political and financial influence, as well, but many saw his flight to the US as a dangerous one. It would be a hard fight when he returned.
When all was said and done, Rachel had a relatively pleasant time with the Legends. It was indeed a different kind of evening than she’d ever had, yet it felt good to be a part of something that actually mattered. Upon getting up to leave, her and Nia’s ears darted to the elevator as a disturbance came from the middle-floor dining area.
“M-Monster! What did you do to my wife?! W-Why is everyone changing into monsters?!”
“Wha—you’re the Troll, man?”
“Sweetie?! P-Please, calm down!”
“Ahhh!”
“Woah! Woah! Chill!”
Nia was ready to act, but Rachel held a hand in front of her chest, stopping her and causing the others to pause as they prepared to leave.
Hold up. We’re not suited for this kind of thing. Let’s see how they react…
Vision narrowing, her gaze darted to Jeanne. “A commotion downstairs—second floor—a man is claiming his wife, and everyone else, is transforming; he’s becoming violent.”
The saint’s brow set and a holy aura embraced her as she acted without a second’s hesitation. Speed increasing dramatically, she hiked up her dress and leaped over the tables to the emergency stairs, a large, furled banner materializing in her hand.
French accent thick, she shouted, “I will subdue him before harm comes to the citizens! Call the authorities.”
Holding her hands behind her back, Rachel tilted her head toward the three men with a small smile. “Aren’t you going to help the woman?”
Tom donned his military jacket and started buttoning it up. “I wouldn’t even make it in time to see the action. It’s probably already over.”
Sure enough, Rachel shifted her weight to stare at the floor, where the saint had already engaged the troll. Her swift and unhesitant action of rushing to do good, even in another nation, where her actions could be scrutinized, told her everything she needed to know about the blonde. She wasn’t concerned about laws or what was acceptable; Jeanne did what she thought was right.
Charlemagne fastened his suit coat and brushed back his long black locks with a smile as the guests nearby tried to figure out why a woman in a blue dress had just jumped across half the room over their heads.
“Hmm. Jeanne is a very effective warrior when it comes to de-escalation. If you were hoping to see my abilities, then I’m going to have to disappoint you.” His glowing brown eyes gleamed with curiosity. “I have a sneaking suspicion that this has something to do with those clams of misfortune you told our dear Nia about.”
Arthur popped out his sleeves while eyeing the frowning bunny. “I had wondered when that would come up again. A Troll Faekin that went berserk… Am I to assume that if Nia were to eat it, then she would have the same reaction?”
Her lieutenant’s ears flew up in alarm, the bun’s eclipse-like eyes darting to her. “Tell me that’s not the case. I have Control Resistance due to the point you sank into it. I abhor the thought of turning against you.”
Rachel showed a small smirk and shrugged at the three men. “All I know is that we avoided some insane misfortune by evading clams, but if Nia had gone berserk and used some of my abilities that she’s in control of… It could have been very bad. Why don’t we find out?”
Feeling a little frisky and far better now with Lunar Energy in her pool, Rachel decided it was about time she tested out her new Feat. She flickered, leaving an afterimage as Nia mirrored her. “See you below.”
[Blessed Lunar Grace: Active]
[Flash Step: Charges Consumed 5/5]
Using Chang’e’s Feat, Rachel instantly teleported through the floor, Nia keeping their skirts twisted against their ankles to land between two tables on the second landing. A hulking, three-meter-tall Troll Faekin was locked in place, Jeanne’s spear-like banner plunged through his chest; the flag was unfurled, alabaster chains exiting the shaft to bind him in place.
Jeanne instantly locked eyes with her as she calmed down the restaurant staff and patrons. “Do not be concerned; my spear did not harm him physically! I have chained his spirit and will purify him of the evil magic clouding his soul. Please, remain calm!”
A gentle aura filled the space from the blonde’s radiant presence, first checking on one of the male servers who had come between the troll and presumably his stunned brunette wife. He was on the ground, groaning and cradling what appeared to be a broken arm and dislocated shoulder.
“I-I can’t—I can’t breathe…” he choked, Rachel’s ears twitching as she heard his ragged lungs trying to fight some kind of pressure.
The middle-aged, brown-haired wife of the troll seemed to be calming down as the saint de-escalated things. Rachel’s focus snapped to the white chains as she heard the links around the troll quiver slightly.
[Divine Beast Empowerment II] showed her a miasmic, reddish tint growing from the man as he hissed out steam, blue skin gradually turning crimson as foreign energy continued to build within him. [Beastial Instincts II] further gave her insight into the rising threat the troll was becoming.
Jeanne ignored the enraged man as if he was of no concern at all, giving the citizens hope that things wouldn’t escalate. Yet, that clearly wasn’t the case as her unfurled banner began to illuminate, beating back the expanding Negative Force—and surprisingly quickly—all while she continued to help the injured man.
“Here, take my hand… Everything is going to be okay.” She showed a cheery radiance that seemed infectious, her illuminated hand gently pressing against the guy’s chest; he winced as a crack came from his arm and shoulder, yet he didn’t cry out, and they both began to heal. “I have cured the lasting damage, but you will still have some fractures and bruising. Please see a doctor as soon as you are able.”
“Y-Yeah…” he coughed, breathing normally again. “Thank you… Who are you?”
“No one important,” she chimed, her thick braid swaying as she helped him to his feet and turned to the brunette. “Would this be your husband, Ma’am?”
Rachel took one of the nearby empty chairs at a table, Nia hesitantly joining her as they watched the saint work; several people had noticed their teleportation, yet were too enthralled by the troll and holy woman to bother them.
Sirens picked up in the distance as another staff member got through to the police. Tom’s call directly to the FBI director would spark a bigger response.
Brushing back her somewhat messy brown locks, the woman cleared her throat and nodded as events played out around them. “He… may not be pretty to look at, but he’s… he’s such a nice man—attentive. I don’t know why he suddenly a-acted out like that.”
Jeanne moved in to hug the woman, the embrace jogging her out of her panic and helping to ease her thumping heart. “He will be fine, Ma’am. Please, take a seat so you don’t collapse. It is not his fault.”
Rachel rested her cheek against the back of her hand, spotting her other three dinner guests exit the elevator and join the crowd. The saint placed her hand on the shaft of her spear, brow set as she used her other hand to press against the red-skinned troll’s enlarged chest; his heart had grown in size and beat faster by the second as he struggled to free himself from the chains.
“Charlemagne,” she whispered as the man casually strode forward to stand by her side, “there is a pernicious force infusing into his very soul, seeking to corrupt and twist him into something… Infernal.”
“A demon?” Arthur asked, joining the pair as Tom ushered everyone toward the stairs to evacuate while leaving the troll’s wife close enough to see what was going on with her spouse. It seemed that the possibility that this was a possession was swiftly spreading between customers and staff; it didn’t help how flashy she and Jeanne had been.
The blond man stood nearby, ready to take action if needed, not that Jeanne seemed to be in any danger of losing control. “And what are the chances this happened when we were in attendance, Charlemagne? Was it meant for us?”
Rachel piped up from her table. “Personally, I’ve felt, seen, and experienced Hell Force, as many of you know, quite intimately. This isn’t that. It’s something new, and I doubt it was planned for us. My guess, we were in the right place at the wrong time. Hehe. Blame my misfortune. That being said, I… think I’ve felt this energy before,” she said, gaze drifting to Nia to offer her own take.
Her white-haired bun was examining her nails as if bored. “It is similar to some of the monstrous creatures that were in the coliseum, only far less potent, for obvious reasons.”
“Not a demon,” the dark-haired emperor hummed, walking around the chained troll as Jeanne began to gradually overwhelm the Negative Force with her aura, chanting a prayer under her breath. “A monstrification of some kind… possibly an experiment, which means the observers would be nearby.”
Arthur sighed and shifted his gaze to her. “You’re the sensory experts, Rachel.”
Ears falling forward a tad, Rachel chuckled. “They covered their tracks well, and misfortune isn’t helping me on this one other than avoiding the same fate. I doubt they were inside the restaurant unless this was a total surprise for them as well, because no one gave the impression in the immediate area that they knew this was going to happen… Unless you heard something I didn’t, Nia?”
She shook her head. “Nothing that would indicate they were taking notes or expecting it.”
Charlemagne nodded. “It would do little good to speculate without further investigation, which… I expect the US FBI and Homeland to coordinate on?” he asked, spotting Tom already on the phone and making calls while motioning for the remaining occupants to leave via the stairs. “This is certainly one way to end our night together. Thoughts, Jeanne?”
The blonde puffed out her cheeks as her chains vanished, and she smoothly slid the spear out of the troll’s chest without a mark. Arthur easily caught the man’s weight and helped him down while his wife rushed to his side, trying to remain strong and asking him if her husband would be alright.
Jeanne’s light dimmed, and Rachel felt a noticeable decrease in her perceived threat levels; it had been more taxing than she had made it look.
“Something isn’t right…” she whispered, adjusting her dress top. “It was far too potent to be anything less than someone of a similar level to us.”
“Pfft!” Rachel smirked and waved at the three Legends. “We have different standards. Don’t mind me. My expectations are tainted by Hell.”
“Yes, well, be that as it may,” Jeanne sighed, “it is something worth investigating because if we had come minutes later, I doubt I would have been able to restore him to his normal state… Healing is not my specialty.”
Rachel’s ears rose as the blue-eyed blonde directed a cheery grin her way.
“In any case, thank you for informing me in time to save his life and any further damage he may have caused. I believe we made for a wonderful team!”
“I like a woman of action,” Rachel returned, rising to her feet and smoothing out her skirt. “I’m starting to think I should plot to recruit you to the team somehow. I’m positive I could get you a US citizenship,” she added, flashing her teeth.
Fixing her hairband with a chortle, the blonde returned the smile. “I am flattered by the offer, but France is my home. That does not mean we cannot cooperate! I suppose we are to leave this for the general?”
Arthur made sure the wife was okay before rising to his feet to look between them. “I’d like to move on to our next destination as soon as possible. Charlemagne?”
Clasping his wrist behind his back, the Legendary emperor of Europe studied the troll for a few seconds in silence. “…I shall remain here with General Dallas to inquire further on this matter. There are a few things I wish to confirm before returning to our hotel. Jeanne, please, enjoy your time away from my schemes.”
The change in formality was a plus for Rachel as the blonde laughed. “Yes, Charles, but I fear I have left one schemer for another. Maybe Rachel will be more… flexible.”
Rachel moved to join the two golden-haired Legends, feeling rather good about how this meeting had gone. “It depends on the subject. Well, why don’t we save a knight? After you,” she said, gesturing at the UK dignitary. “Let’s slip out before we get caught up in a police report or something. Tom can handle the paperwork.”
“Thanks…” the bald man mumbled, only just making it back after directing the crowd to the lower level. “I get the sneaking suspicion that I’ll be cleaning up after your messes a lot, Rachel. I’m starting to see a pattern with how your misfortune abilities work.”
“Oh, c’mon, General,” she teased, shooting him an impish grin, “haven’t I proven myself to be more than an asset to allow a little misfortune? Look what you might be able to learn from this incident alone. Maybe I end up in all the wrong places, but don’t I also bring about all the right results?”
“That’s… partly what I’m afraid of,” the man whispered as she left with the two Legends.
They made small talk about the incident as they slipped inside Arthur’s black SUV and continued on their journey; however, her mind looped back to the video of Empress Wu and the CCP. There was an unbelievably large string of misfortune that opened up to her upon the reveal that stretched far into the future. Something big was happening in China.
Rachel grew a tad impatient as forty minutes passed before they reached their destination, the agents driving them wanting to take several detours to be sure no one was on their tail. At least she had the chance to get better acquainted with the two golden-haired Legends, giving her a better insight into how The Oscillation hadn’t selected them randomly.
Jeanne was 19 years old, the same as her, but the girl had been mortified once learning that she’d been drinking on an illegal license that Charlemagne had provided her. She hadn’t even checked the false identification until the topic came up, and, evidently, it said she was 21. It went without saying that the girl had rarely left France.
On the other hand, Arthur was nearly 60 years old and had a wealth of military experience under his belt; that wasn’t going to keep him from enjoying his newfound youth, but he also had responsibilities to handle. On a more personal note, he loved racquetball, which Rachel wasn’t opposed to trying at some point.
The king was married, and Jeanne’s innocent probing revealed it to indeed be to the Legend of Guinevere. The king had no issues discussing his wife, talking up her beauty and dedication in staying by his side. Although, Rachel did catch a subtle shift in his undertone when some specific topics came up. Their relationship seemed to be a complicated one.
Nia kept her ears trained on other topics, and not all of them external threats. When they stopped in front of an old, abandoned building outside of DC proper, she caught a curious look in the bunny girl’s eyes.
Something caught your ear?
“Hmm.” Her twin glanced back toward the city, somewhat bored with how peaceful their ride had been since she couldn’t find any threats. “There is a fashion show happening right now, and I’m listening to the conversations people are having on the items…”
Rachel couldn’t help but chuckle. Ah, the fashion show… basically, the fancy restaurant you would have rather gone to to devour outfits instead of the horrific, bunny leg-cooking place we dined at. You’re taking it too personally; they aren’t bunnies like Moongmor or Mei.
“I can’t help my brain wandering without an enemy to focus on. I’m still trying to process the, uh, wiki page you showed me on rabbits… or those weird ‘anime’ pictures that Scarlet and Alexa enjoy. I half feel insulted. What do these people mean when they say I’m very messy and that I shed a lot? Rude.”
I’m sure you do feel a certain way! You’re on a forum about pet owners, and you have to stop thinking you’re taking L’s for all of bunny kind; besides, I’m sure you saw just how many people love bunnies as companions! You just can’t connect typical ones with yourself.
“Humph. I may be Living Denier, but I’m also a Lunar Bunny… Some people think I’m a total myth! How can they deny I exist when I do?”
Haha! You are in deep. Come out of the rabbit hole.
Nia slammed the door with a light glare at her. “One of those sayings about rabbits? Yes, rabbits dig holes. Skin me! Gah… And what is with this expression ‘breed like rabbits’ when we have a very sophisticated mating system?! Experts, my tail.”
Letting the bunny cope with the media depictions of bunnies, Rachel followed the agents into the building. Jeanne and Arthur took either side of her, Nia bringing up the rear, still swiping through websites talking about different kinds of rabbits.
Once going past several checkpoints and down an elevator, making the internet cut out, Nia handed her phone back, now in a sour mood. Jeanne struck up a conversation with the bun, trying to invoke a more positive mood by having her describe what she thought about bunnies; it was a good pivot.
Their conversation died upon reaching Galahad’s room, and the agents left them to their privacy, explaining that the doctor would be in shortly after checking on another patient.
Rachel moved to the man’s side to take the armchair since she’d be providing blood soon enough, trying to relax as Nia vanished in sparkling light to try out various outfits she’d heard about at the fashion show; some designs the bun described seemed wild, but maybe she just wasn’t getting the right mental picture. Meanwhile, the two golden-haired Legends stood at the foot of the bed, somber faces viewing the near-dead knight.
Her wide field of vision took in the whole room with a single sweep, sensing the pernicious pollution she’d injected into Galahad’s spirit like a poison; it felt like it hung in the air like a fog with how potent the Hell Force was. “Unlike the other Force, this… smells demonic. I wasn’t even thinking about what I was doing when going after Relica.”
A swirling miasma of Negative Energy leaked out of him, his skin sunken and sickly as Yomi’s influence twisted into his spiritual center; rotten vapors flowed out with every breath the unconscious man took, doing his best to keep the insidious element at bay.
Arthur’s eyes tightened. “Are you strong enough after the last incident, Jeanne?”
The woman hugged herself, a shiver passing through her frame as she studied the demonification in progress. “My strength matters little in this exchange; I am only here to direct the Ichor like a funnel, which doesn’t require much… I am speechless, Rachel. To think you channeled this kind of… hazardous pollutant is difficult to swallow.”
“You should have seen Yomi itself,” she said with a short laugh, “or… met Izanami in the flesh. Ironically, I think you might sympathize with her more than you think.”
Jeanne offered a strained smile. “On the contrary, I believe all demons and fallen angels can be saved. Even devils, born in the corruption of Hell, can be redeemed… if they seek it. It is never easy, but it is a pursuit worth making.”
“And then you have me,” Rachel said, throwing open her arms to invite their gaze. “I mingle with the damned and divine! What does that say about me?”
The blonde’s blue eyes softened. “It says you are like everyone else, including me: a complicated soul, seeking a better life. Our paths may differ, but our pursuits remain the same, and it is there we may find common ground.”
Crossing her legs and smoothing out her skirt, Rachel streamed out a hot puff of air. “You really are a different kind of Saint than Barbara or Charlemagne,” she whispered, ears lifting and looking toward the door as the doctor put in his credentials to enter. “Barb’s chill, Charles is the schemer, and you’re the blonde trying to get along with everyone.”
“Aww. That’s nice of you to say! I have enjoyed my time with Barbara, as well, and she has been very adamant about me not calling her a saint. It is something Charles and I have discussed as of recent.”
“Cool. Cool. Hmm. Let’s hope this works… because I know a certain bedridden girl who would like to plan her wedding and a redhead waiting to pop the champagne when I tell him the news. What do you need, Doc?”
The doctor showed a positive attitude while displaying the kit under his arm; Jeanne and Arthur listened as he explained. “From what General Dallas told me, you have much thicker blood than the average person, so I’ve brought a large tube and needle. This should only take a moment. But, umm… I was told there would be some kind of… magical element to this transfusion? This is all very new to me,” he laughed.
Jeanne grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to insert herself between her and Galahad. “I will hold the tube and maintain the Ichor’s holy properties without it dispersing into the aether… It could attract unwanted attention otherwise if I do not consolidate it.”
Rachel hummed, extracting more from the statement than Jeanne probably meant to reveal about Charlemagne’s plots, no doubt, or maybe she did it on purpose. Either way, the revelation told her that if she bled, then the Ichor could attract some kind of supernatural sharks or undesired attention. She had to be careful. Arthur seemed to catch it as well by his thoughtful expression.
The doctor slid right past the topic and inserted the needle, handing Jeanne the tube as he did the same for Galahad. Silence ensued as they watched her shimmering white blood slowly move down the plastic, a light golden outline from Jeanne keeping the divine elements concentrated.
“How long will it take?” Rachel asked, feeling Nia stir within her as the procedure began.
A shrug came from the physician. “Typically, a transfusion can take one to four hours, depending on which parts of the blood you receive and how much blood you need, which are both pieces of the equation I’m missing. I assume until the patient is better from what little I was told.”
Arthur was by the boy’s side, arms crossed tightly against his chest. “I can already sense his natural defenses strengthening… Jeanne, you don’t need to do more. I’d rather you conserve your strength by only being the Ichor’s guide rather than trying to offer your own support.”
“Guilty,” the French woman said with a strained chuckle. “I have always been one to try to go above and beyond. I will satisfy myself by getting acquainted with the, eh… blood itself… Rachel, she is so weak… Far more damaged than I believed.”
The doctor looked utterly confused, yet Rachel knew the blonde was talking about Nike, trying to keep the need-to-know information subtle.
“We can discuss it later,” Rachel muttered, feeling a tad uncomfortable as she felt her own strength being sapped. “I’m… leaking Lunar Energy, but I guess that’s to be expected.”
Jeanne shook her head, a small light brightening in her dazzling blue eyes. “No, it is being converted! This will help her recovery rate.”
Rachel frowned. If Nike was absorbing her Neutral Lunar Energy, then she would do the same with Positive Force. It would be something she’d have to bring up to the Moon Buns after this procedure when she met up with Anthony and her mother. Nike could be one of the reasons why she’d felt so physically weak recently; the Personification had been sapping strength from her, much as Rachel had been draining spiritual restoring energy from the divine woman.
Telling the two Legends that she’d be absent for a time, she retreated into her inner world with Nia to study the unconscious Personification of Victory. There was a lot to consider when it came to sharing her spirit with someone, including Nia.
Her thoughts returned to the clam incident, where the troll had gone completely out of control. Yes, her relationship with Nike was symbiotic right now, but what if the clam’s monstrification force had managed to slide past Nia’s defenses and gain direct access to her, and thereby Nike? Suddenly, that simple incident didn’t look so simple. Yet, it went even deeper than that.
Studying the silver-haired Personification, she noted the pink robe Nia had crafted for her, modeled after some online fanart Scarlet had shown her. The woman’s wings had hardly grown at all, but that wasn’t surprising with how badly Dionysus had ravaged her. She looked so helpless and vulnerable, but Jeanne’s subtle comments had opened up a whole new line of thought in Rachel.
“Nia,” she whispered, fist pressed against her nose as she leaned against the chair’s armrest, “there may have been a chance that we unleashed a corrupted Nike on the world…”
Her clone glanced away from the mirror she’d been using to see how she’d look in all the fantasy outfits Alexa and Selvaria had shown her. “I see. So, I was right in thinking that those Infernal clams would have affected me… We need to up our spiritual defenses.”
“It’s more than that,” she returned, shifting to the opposite side of the chair and rubbing her temple. “…We have Nike inside of us… Think about it. Why is Charlemagne so invested in being here in DC right now? Why did he push Jeanne to join him? Why did an archangel tell Jeanne that Nike would be needed?”
The bun brushed away her fantasy outfit to return to modern shorts and a T-shirt as she went to the opposite chair beside Nike’s bed. “The dimensional wall… Wow. I can’t believe we didn’t think of that before,” she mumbled, running her fingers through her hair before shaking it out. “That’s why all the gods were invested in you… You smuggled Nike through the barrier; she’s the sole 5th-dimensional entity on this side.”
“Precisely,” Rachel hummed, unsure how she was supposed to feel about that. “Was this Cerridwen’s plan from the start? Is that why Izanami took such a keen interest in completing the Legend Quest? Chang’e seemed quite concerned about Nike’s state, despite them having no contact before this… So was the angel that blocked Dionysus from interfering further with his restriction.”
Nia drew her knee up to rest her chin. “Sure, the Positive Energy beings might see it as a win to have someone from their side on the field, but she’s far from inside their faction. Maybe when she recovers, she can create a bridge on this side to the higher dimensions?”
“I don’t know,” Rachel mumbled, shaking her head. “It’s just something to keep in mind. We have a literal world destroyer or savior living within us that could influence things on a scale none of us can fully grasp.”
She had visions of the corrupted Personification of Victory directing a meteorite to devastate their planet, twice the size of the one that destroyed the dinosaurs, or her grace shining down to uplift heroes across the world to her cause.
“I’m sure when she does get well enough to speak, we’ll have a lot to discuss. Until then, we keep pushing to build up our world influence… because Jeanne’s angelic messenger was right… Something big is coming, and we’ll need all the help we can get.”
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Comments
SME
Lol. Yup, it seems that way. The FBI is going to have to investigate xD Exposing it isn't going to cause some hurt feelings, nooo!
Andy
Lol, so the clams were cursed/poisoned by someone as an experiment or something.
