Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Excuse me. Let me get through!” She squeezes past the throng of people with great difficulty, but manages to get her bearings. “Ah! Will you move, please? For the sake of Marie Anne Lenormand!”

At the docking area of the station, crowds of people board in and out of the recently arrived train. Among those hopping off and pushing to get to her destination is a small foreign girl with milky blonde hair. Her attire is vibrant and colorful like the surrounding crowd, but she finds ways to stand out through flashy accessories. Whether that’s good or bad has yet to be seen.

“Oh, finally! Ah-ah, ouch, this train ride gave me a real pain in the neck!” Matilda Bouanich grumbles in her native tongue as she gratefully takes a seat on one of the available chairs in the station. The trip itself is exhausting, but arriving is equally stressful. “How nice it’d be if I were to sleep on my bed in such cool and comfortable weather! Or I may as well just stay in Delhi with Mom to sell those topazes!”

A sigh escapes her tired body, hands clutching the documents in them tight enough to wrinkle its fine papers. They’re research documents detailing the theoretical state of a celestial body, a map of the city, and a poster thrown into the mix that was being given out at the station. It’s a reminder what Matilda’s there for in the first place. Eyeing the stack in her hands, she shakes the wariness off and sits up with renewed vigor.

“No! Matilda will not give up here! Who knows when they will approve my leave next time?”

It’s a matter of pure destiny that on the first day of her approved leave to go on vacation with her parents to Dehli that the celestial energy became particularly strong. Gathering experience for the family business is one thing, honing her divination into pure polished crystal is another! Even if Matilda’s underlying intent to spend more time with her mom and dad is thwarted, only fools would pass up such an opportunity! Truly, this moment is made specifically for Matilda to harvest the purest energies and she must not waste it.

Fortunately the strongest source is nearby Delhi and with permission from her parents, Matilda was allowed to take the trip alone with the promise of returning before her leave ends to say her goodbyes. She only brought the essentials to achieve the best results in her meditation. A genius such as her doesn’t need to overpack when all she’d ever need is her skills alone.

“Wait and see. When I find the right place to meditate…”

Matilda will get her spot back as being the best and then everyone will see! Sonetto will truly see!

“Emm, let’s see what this poster is about.” The image on the advert caught Matilda’s eye with the large celestial thematic all over its design. Could it possibly be related to the strong energy the place radiates? “Emm, Dīpa Festival?”

Turning over the poster offers a bit more context. Fortunately for her, she knows enough of the language to decipher the event’s tagline. A genius like Matilda should at least know about half a dozen languages. Although none of them are any match to the beauty and elegance of French.

“People in Mor Pankh hold the Dīpa Festival during the meteor shower period every year to seek the blessings of Vindre.”

“Oh, it’s based on the meteor shower here!” Matilda remembers reading the word Vindre on the research material she’s recently been studying about. If her assumptions are correct, which it always is, then she’s not far off from the destination she’s seeking. She inspects the map she got in hopes of locating the area the post spoke of. For a place to hold a festival in receiving blessings is sure to be filled with great celestial energy. “Now I’m in the East of Chandigarh. Can there be fewer signs here? Ah-ha! This map has English on its back! Very nice. 

Would be more classy if they put French here instead.”

According to the map, a shrine called Mor Pankh is located somewhere in the city. When Matilda felt the intense energy fluctuation, her divinations spoke of such a name. It must be the place! And it just so happens to be one of the areas best to view the meteor shower for the festival. Ah, it’s absolute divinity leading Matilda’s way to success!

“Great! This is where I’m going, then. Where’s my pen?” Matilda continues muttering to herself, sifting through the travel bag she brought with her. “Ah, here! Very good, let me put it down.”

She marks the locations and writes the key notes she knows about the information. It’s a surprise how easy she’s managed to figure out where she needs to go for her meditation. Usually when divine inspiration like these come around, it has Matilda running out of turns, which frustrates her a lot. Hopefully this time around, she’ll receive immense knowledge!

“Phew! Nicely done!” Matilda nods in satisfaction, clutching the papers tightly to her chest in excitement. She leans back on her seat and looks to the ceiling. Judging by the roofing’s pristine nature, the train station was built not too long ago. “Everything is a lot more convenient in the new town.”

Staring up to the new structure of the train station, Matilda wonders what her parents are doing. It’s not the first time she’s been brought to business trips with them to learn about the tricks of the trade, but it’s the first in a long time since she’s been accepted into the Foundation. The negotiations with that Indian man was dizzying, she could barely keep up with what he was saying. She’ll have to polish up on her Hindi more so as not to lag behind.

Matilda will always be the best.

The thought process leads her to relax and start feeling the exhaustion. Her rush to catch the earliest train there has her extremely tired. It’s a fairly less traveled city and with the festival going, she now can see why almost all the trains booked to go there were nearly full. Many tourists like her are bound to be interested in watching the meteor shower. Matilda yawns.

“Emm. Just one quick nap, very brief…”

It’ll only be to rest her wary eyes. She hasn’t slept at all once her divination showed the place she needs to go. With so many people, there’s no risk of getting whisked away and even if someone were to try, they’re messing with the wrong lady. Only fools would dare challenge Matilda, the great genius of the Foundation. Smiling to herself, the blonde dozes off peacefully. Unaware of the pair of eyes looking her way.

“Oh? Have the Gods chanced us with a destined meeting~? Is this…fate?”

Chapter Text

Matilda stirs, keenly sensing something amiss. What can only be described as the sound of the wind’s sway has her waking up slowly.

“Umm…? What is it? Something swaying?”

Bleary eyes open on time to see a small kid hovering over her. He stiffens in surprise, but quickly recovers by clearing his throat. Matilda squints.

“Emm, ahem! Is this yours, Miss?”

The same swaying noise unfolds the delicate chain of the trinket in the boy’s hands. At the end of the golden line is a finely cut topaz with a rare sapphire pearl as decoration. It’s a charm that Matilda knows well since it’s one of the few in her collection that could be so pure in energy.

“Emm? Hey, that’s the pendulum my Mom gave me!” A sense of suspicion grew as Matilda glared at the boy. “Who are you?”

“It fell on the floor. I was just picking it up for you!” The boy says, offering the pendant back to her. “There, don’t lose it again.”

“Oh!” How can she be so reckless? Such a quality crystal doesn’t come around everyday, Matilda should be more careful. Fortunately a local was kind enough to return it to her before anyone took it away. “Thank you.”

Matilda reaches for the pendulum.

“Nuh-uh. It’s yet too early to say thanks, girl.”

“Hmm?”

A shadow casts over the two by a tall man approaching. With long unruly hair and wearing layers of animal pelts, his head is accessorized with a uniquely designed goat mask. Matilda’s focus turns to the man’s left arm, fully prosthetic. It leaves her feeling defensive.

“About three minutes ago? Or, five minutes ago? This fellow was wandering around you like a sneaky ferret-badger.” The man’s tone is carefree and lax, an impression that he means no harm. It’s easy to see he bears no ill will in his words. “Trust me. This is no friendly encounter.”

But if the man’s telling the truth, then what…

His prosthetic arm lifts up, expertly taking something from the unassuming boy. Between the stiff artificial fingers is a well crafted leather wallet with fine details engraved onto its surface. Matilda wouldn’t mistake it for anyone else’s as it’s custom made with her family’s insignia.

“Umm? That’s mine.” She points at the boy in realization. “You! You stole my wallet?!”

“Wha, what?” He pats down his pants, flustered at being caught. “I’ve put it in my pocket.”

“Someone needs to work on his techniques, right, boy?” Using his organic arm, the man lifts the boy by the back of his shirt, mindful as to not choke him by his collar.

“Let go! Let go of me!” He struggles against the hold, flailing his limbs around wildly. “Damn it! Go mind your own business!”

“Unfortunate for you, my business these days is to mind others’ business.” The man returns Matlida’s wallet to her before reaching over to inspect the kid’s pockets for more. “Seems like there are more things in that pocket of yours. Come on, you know where we are going.”

With all the thrashing and wiggling, the boy manages to twist himself enough to bite hard into the arm holding him. The pain shocks him and makes him let go, the kid wasted no time in fleeing the scene.

“He’s gotten away. My, my, my pendulum!” Matilda cries, noticing the sparkling charm still in the hands of the runaway boy. “He has my pendulum. Stop! You!”

Immediately, she gives chase with the man not too far behind. Weaving through the large cluster of people, Matilda expertly dodges the obstacles just like in training. But the kid has the advantage of familiarity, turning corners and passing lanes easily. Matilda will not let a thief take her things!

“Damn it!” Panting and slowly losing energy, the boy glances back toward the two in hot pursuit. “They are catching up!”

“Stop right there, you little thief!” Matilda shouts, putting more effort into speeding up.

Seeing no more options, the boy scoffs. It’s not worth getting sent to the police station over one crystal. With a huff, the annoyed boy throws the pendulum in the distance with full strength.

“Ah, you, boy!” The man squeezed through the people, attempting to grab him, but was too slow and let him slip away. He immediately gave chase again. “Wait!”

“You! No!” She watches her charm soar into the sky in abject horror. “It’s fragile. Don’t!”

In a beautiful arc, the transparent topaz falls toward the ground like a meteor. Suddenly, a palm appears and catches it safely.

“Phew. Just in time.” A soft voice sighs in relief, the delicate hand that caught the pendulum offers it to Matilda. “Is this yours?”

“Ah, yes.” She freezes, flustered and in awe. For the woman before her is gorgeous.

Dark locks spilling down, turning a rich shade of chocolate against the light. Her eyes are a dazzling hazelnut color that compliments her complexion. And her outfit is a humble mix of cotton and silk with adornment of black gems. A truly refined beauty.

“Put it away, kid.” The lady leans forward, tilting her palm into Matilda’s awaiting hands and letting the pendulum land safely onto them.

“Ah, thank you.” Completely starstruck, Matilda could only let out a sheepish reply.

“It’s okay.” As quick as she arrived, the lady disappears like a gust of wind. Like she was never there at all.

“She left so quickly.” She’s left in a daze, but she shook it off. Someone so refined and lovely must have worthy capabilities like Matilda, but that’s not her priority. The important thing is to check if she has all her belongings. Who knew thieves are rampant around this place. “Ah, my documents. Hope I didn’t mess them up in the chase.

One, two, emm? Two pages are missing. Where did they go?”

No matter, they’ll be easy to find. She just hopes they’re not stepped on and ruined by any passersby. Matilda retraces her steps, looking around in hopes of spotting some stray papers. Fortunately the train station is kept clean so it’ll be easy to find anything laying around. Her search leads to a spot behind the pillars and to a little girl with wavy black hair holding the exact items she’s looking for.

“What are these, hmm? She spelled these all wrong! Even added some lines above them.”

Matilda’s eyebrow twitches in annoyance. Making her way over, she snatches the papers back from the other’s hands. How rude! Dare claim the great Matilda’s spelling to be wrong!

“Don’t even bother trying. It’s in French!”

“Hey! Don’t even think about taking my treasure,” The girl whirls around, intending to start a fight, but freezes at seeing who it is and immediately avoids eye contact. Matilda grows suspicious. “Oh.”

 “What were you muttering about with my map?”

“Emm, ahem.” She clears her throat, hands behind her back innocently. “I, uh, just pick it up and look for its owner. Hope I can help.”

“Help? Humph! Matilda needs no one’s help!” She pats down her blonde braids, hoping no stray hairs have shook loose due to the chase. “Not to mention from a girl who just showed up out of nowher-... Hey! Don’t…don’t touch me!”

“Wow! You is so cool!” Ignoring Matilda’s contempt, the girl holds her arm intimately with a big smile on her face. “Is this your first time in the village? On your own? What’s the plan? Sightseeing? Family visit? Or looking for some…”

“Hey! Let go first.” She wrestles her arm out of the other’s quite firm grasp. For a young girl, she’s got a strong hold, sticky and clingy. It reminds Matilda of a certain woman with equally deadly charms. It makes her even more cautious about the girl. “Why’s that any of your business?”

“Umm, aha, I mean, perhaps not clear to you, but in fact, I am a guide who always gives the best service!”

“A guide?” Matilda squints, not buying her bluff for one second. “Who always gives the best service?”

“A tour guide, maybe? Anyway, I tell you, nobody know this village better than I!”

Matilda squints harder. It’s not uncommon for kids to work young around there from what she understands. Nobody can be as excellent nor as talented as Matilda to be accepted into prestigious institutions and graduate early among the highest ranks. Even so, getting aid from a local in taking her to her destination wouldn’t be a bad option. It’s just that perhaps accepting it from a little girl could lead to trouble.

“Hey, don’t stare at me like this. I’m wandering for a reason: I only give services to outstanding and cool people. They have good taste!” The girl flips her wavy hair, her smile upturned in a sweet way. “That’s why I find you at the station for all travelers! My most great, great customer ever!”

“Ah! Outstanding and impressive people, you say.” Matilda crosses her arms, doing her best to suppress her complacent smile. Maybe accepting her service isn’t a bad idea if such a small girl can see the absolute brilliance that is Matilda. “Humph, at least you have sharp eyes.”

“See, the place you is visiting is different from others!” Her steps are light, movement carrying a sly elegance while she circles Matilda. Like a serpent eyeing its prey. “This shrine, only few tourists are willing to…ahem, only the locals know!”

“And now, people can only go into three caves out of four. But, if you choose I…” The black haired girl reaches out and pats the map on the star. “I can take you go north cave, even if it’s not open!”

“How are you going to take me there?” Matilda frowns in response. Her suspicion remains despite entertaining the idea. If she says that the cave she needs to go is closed off to tourists, then surely her method to get Matilda in wouldn’t be as conventional.

“How, how I do that?” She tilts her head from side to side in thought. The action reminds Matilda yet again of a certain woman, making her nerves itch to not blindly trust her without knowing all the contexts first. “Um, my local connections, of course!”

“I see. No wonder there were some discrepancies between the documents and the tourist brochure.” That makes sense. Even back home only the best and more exquisite places are only known and accessible to people with the right connections. The north cave must be such a location! Matilda clears her throat, keeping up appearance. “Ah-ahem, well, of course, I knew this all along!”

“Heh heh.”

“Hmm? What are you laughing at?” Suddenly Matilda’s not so sure about this again.

“No, no, no, my dear guest, it’s just a sneeze. Well, you see, I just making a living here. I’m short and thin, can’t compare with adults.” She tilts her head slightly–the angle is so perfect that it seems to be a result of countless practices–and sheds tears naturally. “And you is so great. You will not let I, weak poor kid, get hungry for no money, will you?”

“Err. Even if you look at me with those puppy eyes…” Matilda hesitates, struggling to remain aloof and resistant. While the chances of it being a scam is there, it’s also a fact that the great Matilda is no scrooge. She’s lovely, smart, and ever so generous. Sharing is caring both in wealth and knowledge. That’s what makes her the best!

“First sight I know, you is a lady with great taste, just like a sand cat, brave and smart.”

“Sand, sand cat?” Could it be a local creature known for its prowess in hunting and battle? Its name sounds ferocious, cunning, and refined. Just like Matilda. “It does sound like a smart animal.”

“Anyway, you is lucky to meet me, my lady!” The girl waves her hands as if she has made a big decision. “Well, well, for a great customer like you, I can only suffer some loss! Just 200 rupees, and I’ll show you the shrine and the whole Mor Pankh village! With a special Dīpa Festival tour on the house! Want me to recommend a hotel? I know good hotels, too. 

Yes or no, my dear guest? My most great guest? Please…”

“Fine, fine.” Matilda finally caves. With such sincere pleas from a girl coquettishly clinging and sticking to her like glue, she can’t help go soft. Like that damned woman…curse her for making Matilda weak to such tactics! She wonders if she’s… “I will allow you to be my temporary assistant, for your life has been so sad already.”

“Yay! Let’s go treasure hunting, hmm, sightseeing!”

“Excellent.” Nodding, she fixes herself up and ready to continue out of the station. “Have you arranged a shuttle bus for the travel?”

“Heh heh, I have something gooder than bus for you!” The young girl smiles mysteriously. Why is she reminding Matilda so much of that woman? Ugh, no wonder she’s going soft on her already. “And I promise you, quick like flash!”

“Lead the way then.” Matilda moves to follow, but pauses. “Oh! It’s rude to not introduce myself to someone that’ll assist me on my journey for a time. I am the greatest, most talented, Matilda Bouanich. And you are?”

“Name is Kanjira. Please to do business with you.” The girl named Kanjira bows playfully and twirls the other direction, pointing as she goes. “Follow me then. The exit is no far.”

Two girls venture off towards the outside of the station where a small automobile awaits to take them into a greater destination. The same pair of eyes observes with interest and mirth.

“Ever the kind and trusting person you are~ But where you are going…Ah, I must not let her go without backup. Truly fate is on our side this time.”

———————————————

“Let’s GO!!”

“Waaaahh?!” Matilda shrieks, clinging onto dear life as the tuk tuk swerves around a corner, narrowly missing a man that curses after them. It moves at such great speeds that they’re getting more air time than actually meeting the ground and even when they are, the momentum has it rattling to a nauseous degree. “Slow down, slow down! We are going too fast! Waaaah! Is this thing really under control?!”

“Hey!” Kanjira blares its horn, the decorative flora on its roof flutters wildly, sending petals scattering in their wake. “Not yet best part! Hold that bar tight!”

At a whirlwind pace, the tuk tuk barrels through streets and drifts along corners. Matilda’s vision swirls and stomach churns to the point of passing out. The stars blessed her mercy that day as the nightmarish ride ended swiftly. She stumbles out of the passenger seat looking worse for wear.

“Woo-hoo!” On the other hand, Kanjira hopped off the driver’s seat with much more vigor, stretching out like a graceful feline. “How are you feeling, my guest?”

Matilda vomits.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You must not be used to this.” The dark haired girl offers the hem of her skirt in a placating manner. “Here, use it.”

Matilda barely gave it a glance and silently took out her handkerchief instead. It’s only polite not to dirty other people’s silks. A gentle, considerate, and responsible lady like her knows not to inconvenience others purely out of the weakness of her own constitution. She must be more resilient next time if she ever wants to get into fieldwork like a proper investigator.

“If you want your silk dirty. Fine, you look very decent after all.” Kanjira shrugs and walks forward, extending her hand out with a flourish. “And, here it is.”

The shrine is apparently an old one, judging by the worn bricks. The smell of sticky spice is almost suffocating.

“What’s this smell?” Matilda coughs, taking in too much of the scent. “Is it…”

“Smell of full white musk and sanders, calming palo santo and cinnamon.” Taking a deep breath, she stretches her muscles taut and goes lax with an audible sigh. “Hah! You feel your chakra open? But, I can also smell, hmm, a lot of mango. That smells good.”

The area they parked is clear of any prying eyes. Matilda already expects their entry way into the shrine would be through a less acceptable option for the public, but it’s for a great cause! If she were to meditate and receive the greater celestial blessings then surely it’ll aid in her future promotion in the ranks and a step closer to becoming an investigator. She didn’t expect for Kanjira to approach the shrine’s back wall and pat its worn stone surface.

“Okay. Jump this wall, and we are in!”

“Jump over it?!” Matilda points at her, bewildered. “I thought there is at least a hidden side door!”

“To see the closed cave, you must pay a price!”

“Ah.” Her face scrunches at the realization. Ah, she shouldn’t have been so trusting on the efficacies of dodgy backway dealings. Matilda is no fool! “So this is your “local connections!””

“Um. Well, that mean tuk tuk, my guest! No tuk tuk this village is faster than that!” Kanjira brushes her hair to the side, not at all embarrassed nor remorseful at getting caught in her lies. She actually looks proud of herself. “Uncle Sinha is not so nice and lend me if I don’t give him my lunch money! My route don’t need entrance ticket! Shouldn’t you give me credit?”

“Now, come!” Linking her fingers together, Kanjira gets in position to help boost Matilda up onto the wall. “Although I think you don’t like this “rude” behavi-...”

“Humph!”

“Hmm?”

With a running start, Matilda ignores the offered assistance and leaps into the air. Her feet take a couple of steps against the wall to elevate her as both arms grip the top of the wall’s lining.

“I was thoughtful and considerate enough not to wipe my nose on your skirt, yet you repay my kindness with contempt.” Matilda grumbles, lifting herself up with little effort and sat at the top. She’s gone all this way and can’t stop now. She’s willing to pay any price to achieve greatness! She looks down at the boggled girl with a smug and prideful smile. “Climbing over a wall of this height is really a piece of cake! So? Do you need a hand getting up here?”

“...” Kanjira blinks and shrugs with a mysterious smile. “Huh! Weirdo.”

A lone figure, completely unnoticed by the two, continues to observe the girls hop over the shrine wall from afar, having just arrived recently.

“How bold~ Best keep up now. It’s too dangerous to go exploring alone in unknown territory.”

———————————————

The shrine is shrouded in thick smoke and packed with pious believers, resembling a legged cloud with the smell of spices. The two small figures sneak into the shadowy corners while avoiding the believers on their way.

“I don’t know what this skulking was for!” Matilda mutters under her breath, careful not to get caught by any of the people walking by. “You’d better not be lying!”

Her threats fall on deaf ears and her only response is a crisp sound of teeth sinking in. Kanjira sits cross legged on the floor, happily eating away at a plump ripe mango, its skin a vivid sunny gold. The black haired girl didn’t even bother peeling it, consuming it fully; skin and all.

“Hey, what’s that in your hand?!”

“You want a bite?” She offers the partially eaten fruit to her, unfazed by Matilda’s glares. “The prayers are so pious, so don’t worry, the fruits is tasty! Nom, nom, like I expect, so sweet.”

“When did you…” Matilda’s head snaps back towards the way they just came, having passed by some bowls of fruit earlier. “Did you take it from the offerings?!”

“Don’t mind! Manka, come back.” Waving her hand casually, a small black snake slithers around the floor, coiling around her fingers and up to her arm quietly. “By the way, I hope you is not afraid of snakes. I’m a special kind.”

“And I’m curious about what exactly are you referring to.” Matilda crosses her arms, eyebrow twitching. She’s at the end of her patience with this ‘guide’ of hers. “Specially rude, or specially annoying?”

“Why so angr–” Kanjira shakes her head. “I mean, um, I’m arcanist. Hope I don’t scare you. Relax, I’m not like others.”

“Are you serious?” She couldn’t help but jump up in surprise. Was it not obvious enough that such a talented and wonderful lady like Matilda is an arcanist as well?! “Can’t you tell I’m also an excellent, one of the best, arcanist?”

Realizing her mistake, Matilda quickly crouched back down into their hiding place. She hopes her outburst didn’t blow their cover. Even so, to think the other didn’t know about her origin! Matilda obviously knew about hers, so what was all that about seeing her greatness then?!

“So you were lying to me! Spoke about all those good virtues you see in me.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault! You doesn’t look like one!” Kanjira pouts, tossing the mango pip and wiping her hands on her skirt while she inspects Matilda all over curiously. “I thought all arcanists except me are like…”

“Like what?” Matilda scoffs.

“Like the villagers, those old mans, yell when they see humans, like annoying monkeys or crowing chickens. They even drive humans away, don’t care they is here to help.” Kanjira scowls, her tone full of venom and scorn for the elders of the village. “Why you think only the train station is tidy and clean? Humans in other places is all driven away! 

I’m not like them because… Anyways, I never thought there is more arcanists like me…”

Matilda stares at the girl mumbling in confusion, the irritating resemblance returning. So the village is full of extreme arcane traditionalists unwilling to live harmoniously with humans? It’s not uncommon in recent times, but with the reversing of the era, such civilizations will become more and more prevalent again. Matilda doesn’t doubt how Kanjira is convinced she’d be like everyone else, but surely her elegance and generosity shone through that even ones with thick skulls can appreciate her magnificence.

“Humph, if you ask me, I’d say you read too little and know too little.” Her tone is still reprimanding, but has considerably softened. Matilda can acknowledge the bravery of others willing to bridge that gap between humans and arcanists like she has. “I suggest you follow my example and adopt the style of a real arcanist.”

“Fine, fine!” Kanjira brushes it off, looking towards the crowd as her snake hisses gently. “Oh, Manka say there is just a few people outside, so up your head, stay confident, and walk out like we paid!”

“...” Matilda’s annoyance returns. “Have you been listening to me or not?!”

Having no choice but to drop the subject, the two girls move on quickly and swiftly to their destination. They move through using the smoke as their cover, unassuming as any of the regulars before slipping past into the restricted area. After a while, they make it to the north cave entrance.

“Ha! Nice. Nobody around as usual!” Kanjira looks around, contemplative. “But I still suggest you be careful, since… Hmm, I understand the damage when digging. Just don’t involve me if you must break something!”

“So this is “the Head of Vindre?”” Matilda’s eyes glimmer, ignoring the other girl’s words as she takes out her journal full of notes. From the structure of the cave, the top looks like a black hole. No one knows where it will lead or what it will devour.

“Tsk, tsk, dark and scary.” The dark haired girl shudders, rubbing her arms full of goosebumps. “But this is what must go through on the way to treasure, just like you must say “Open Sesame,” right?”

“I really don’t know what to make of this “treasure” you’ve been mumbling about.” Turning a page, she gives the other a brief glance. “I hope you didn’t get the wrong idea.”

“Ah. I see you mean here. Relax. I will zip my lips and tell no one.” Kanjire smiles and makes a zipping gesture across her mouth with pure sincerity. She clearly didn’t get what Matilda meant. “I’ll just stay here, then. Everything good luck!”

“Ah?” Matilda raises an eyebrow at the odd declaration. What luck would she need going into a cave? No matter. She no longer needs to dwell on such thoughts since she’s close to her goal! “Anyway, despite all the strange things you’ve been talking about all the way, you have successfully taken me here as promised. I guess here is where we part! Thank you.”

A moment of farewell and she’s venturing into the deep. The darkness easily consumes her and the walls quickly muffled whatever words Kanjira starts muttering under her breath. What a strange girl. It’s likely they’ll never meet again. Matilda organizes the documents in her hands and surveys the path ahead. It’s difficult to see too far, but the tunnel itself is a straight line leading deeper within until it opens up into a dome area.

Several stone statues line the walls, ancient and decorative in nature. At the center leading up from the entrance is a complex mural depicting some bizarre event. Of a six armed deity, a maiden partaking on its tail as a comet comes down, and a central eye of an intricate black hole. Matilda cross references the images on the mural to the documents, finding similarities.

“This mural seems to be related to the myth!” Matilda flips through the pages quickly, locating the sections best describing the images on the wall. “Here, on this paper! Let me see.”

It’s a tale of some greater force formed. Built under the event of a comet streaking across the sky. Of an entity birthed from said structure and star, its purpose neither malevolent nor nefarious, only results is the end of man’s righteous dwellings.

““The Serpent Struck,” that is to say, the best time to practice on the celestial energy is when the comet goes across the sky?” It’s true that the fall of a celestial body brings out its peak source of power. To bask in the erudite glow of a streaking blaze will one attain absolute success.

Yet the tale continues with a foreboding warning of obsession and power. To seek such greatness from something not owned by mortal hands results in the ever coiling darkness that is selfishness and desire. For desire is the infallible devourer.

“Desire, hmmm…” Matilda always was reminded by her grandfather to be ever humble, generous, and responsible for her talent. The moment she loses sight of those teachings is the day she’ll be unfit to own it. “I should meditate before practice.”

Show respect, delve deep into one’s Gnosis and the path to the stars shall guide her steadfastly. Matilda knows this well and is proof of her excellence without a doubt. She will always be grateful for each opportunity before showing off such outstanding skills blessed to her.

But there seems to be more to this tale full of otherworldly knowledge.

“The circle of everything ends at the tip of the great tail, all…”

The ground shook with a resounding crash of stone and debris. Matilda stumbles, nearly losing her balance to the violent shaking that caught her off guard. As quickly as it happened, the shaking stops, leaving her in deafening silence. She looks behind her frantically, detecting no oddities and only the boundless darkness stretched beyond. Was she hearing and feeling things?

“Did I hear it wrong?” Saying that, she hears it again. The same crumbling noise. Like rocks being moved, letting copious piles of dust and soil fall off in clumps. Someone or something is there. “No… Come into the light! Who, who is there?”

There’s no response other than her own echoing voice reverberating throughout the cave. She’s more on guard now.

“This doesn’t seem right.” A quick survey of the area leads Matilda to notice a subtle change only keen eyes like hers would detect. “Was this statue posing like this earlier?”

Scrutinizing the stone fixtures embedded into the wall, Matilda’s sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her. There’s no doubt about it, the position is slightly different. It still holds the sitting lotus pose, but the arms are raised a slight degree higher, fingers poised differently. Could it be…

While she’s inspecting it closely was the moment it showed its true sentience. Immediately the statue shook, untwisting itself from the pose and began writhing around in an attempt to free itself from the wall it’s embedded into. Soon, the rest of the statues follow suit. Matilda quickly backs away.

“Not good! It’s time to retreat.” She turns around immediately and runs toward the exit, yet the ground is pulling her back like a rolling carpet. The contrasting force of movement causes her to trip and fall. She can feel her chin hitting hard against the rock. No doubt it’ll leave a scrape. “What?! Aah!”

More and more arms start bursting from the wall, freeing the statues from their enclosure. Inside each palm is a glassy eyeball embedded at its center that rapidly oscillates around as if searching the area.

“What? What is this!” Matilda scoots backwards into a sitting position, her cries attracting the attention of the statues and its dozens of hands all turn to her, the beady eyes glistening in attention. She grits her teeth and quickly stands up, grabbing her crystal ball from her bag. With no escaping it, she’ll have to fight these creatures off! It’ll be her first official battle outside designated training and she can feel her fingers twitch due to the adrenaline. But Matilda is no coward! A Bouanich never backs down out of cowardice! “Oh! Hurry up! Get yourself together! Think what you have learned and practiced in the past!”

She grips her orb firmly and harnesses the power within her. The celestial stars be her guide, divine and graceful, let fractal might burst forth. Matilda’s fingers shine and streaks of light come shooting out of her sphere in wide beautiful arches. They’re focused precision aids in dealing fatal hits to compensate for her attack’s limited strength. A quick analysis of the enemy allows Matilda to determine their weakness to be the eyes in their palms. It’s how they see and if she takes those out first, she’ll have more time to locate the best areas to hone in on and destroy them in a single blow.

Large chunks of stone splinter off from the impact of the attacks, angering them. Dozens of limbs come crashing down, thrashing violently and leaving deep craters on the rough floor. Matilda dodges swiftly, narrowly missing and eventually getting swatted by one. She cries out in pain as she gets flung across the ground, but quickly gets back up to continue her incantations. A searing pain makes her lurch and grab her side. The warm sticky sensation of her injury makes her skin prickle. She needs to focus.

Avoiding another wave of hands attempting to grab at her, she releases more streams of light that hits their mark with perfect aim. Matilda silently cheers once she finds the junctures the statues are most brittle and shoots at it with more strength. The stone creatures burst and collapse, their debris large with fragments grazing Matilda that leaves cuts on her pristine pale skin. She staggers back, breathing heavy and clutching her bleeding side.

Like a hydra, when one falls, two more take its place as many hands come breaking free from walls and birth out a new enemy. There’s no end in sight to them! Matilda backs away, her legs giving in from the wounds and effort. Even with someone as talented as her, this is too much exertion of her arcane energy!

“Ahh, ouch, it hurts!” Matilda hisses, the wound on her side persistent in its bleeding. If it goes on, she’ll pass out from blood loss. She raises her bloody hand, forcing another string of attacks to destroy the advancing horde, but new ones just replace them. “How…How come there are so many of them!”

She’s running out of steam and yet it’s like she barely made a dent in the army. What’s going on?! What should she do?! No, Matilda can’t start panicking now. There is always a solution to the problem as long as she thinks things through!

“Not good, not good. Think, Matilda.” Yet there’s no chance the enemy will spare her enough time and a statue has made it close enough to her for it to raise its stone umbrella, poised to attack. Matilda fumbles with her orb, hands slippery with blood that she loses grasp of it. “No, don’t…!”

Bang!

Huh?

Showering lights like a meteor shower. The sounds of cracking glass and sparks fly with odd pin prick punctures at the center of all the statues’ heads. Or was it really their heads? All of them froze as if they were stunned. And momentarily glitches. Matilda squints. How…Is that…

“Get on your feet!”

“Hmmm?” Suddenly, she’s seized by a quick rush of energy and like a puppet pulled by its strings, jumps up to her feet without an issue. “Ahh!”

“Well done, little diviner.” She feels a warm presence surround her, a reassuring hand holds her shoulder and pulls her close. The aura is familiar, making Matilda feel safe and secure. The person casts an incantation and her body starts glowing.

“My legs, they heal themselves.” Matilda looks down in awe, her cuts and bruises melting away in a golden light along with the pain as if they’re mere illusions. Her side no longer hurts either and the blood just…vanished. “Where are the wounds?”

“Close your eyes. Don’t look at anything.” The voice above her commands and she’s quick to obey, fully trusting her well being to this person. She's good at judging people for their skills and this woman has excellence worthy of Matilda’s respect. “The illusions would destroy your will.”

“Wait.” Illusions? It all starts making sense to Matilda now. Surely an ancient cave housing so many statues popping out of its walls could not sustain its form that long. She’d be buried alive by now with how many sprung out. “That, that was…”

She hears the woman casting once more, large arcane energy wells up and surrounds them. Like a fragile dome, sounds of glass cracking more and more until it shatters in a cacophonous echo following a bright flash against Matilda’s eyelids. Then cold silence fell like it was all a dream.

Matilda gasps, snapping her eyes open. She looked around frantically and what was a messy battlezone of craters were all returned to before the first statue moved. Looking down at herself, she inspects her body that’s clean of dirt and blood. Slapping her legs only proves its healthy, pristine condition. No cuts, no abrasions, no bruising. Only red marks left from her own ministration.

“How come…? Is it some kind of hallucinating arcane skill?” Matilda turns to her rescuer, immediately recognizing her. “You are the lady from the train station.”

“Looks like part of our destinies are now tied together, kid.” The dark haired woman gives a reassuring smile. “What are you doing here? I don’t think this place is open to tourists.”

“I…” Matilda smiles nervously, quickly shaking her head and diverting the subject. It’s only polite to be grateful. “T, Thank you for your help! I’ve never seen such skills that can rival my own genius! To be able to pierce through the illusion requires deep concentration!”

“Hm?” Her eyes blink, quite boggled in fact. She places a hand on her chin thoughtfully. “I…did not pierce through it. I felt the arcane disturbance and rushed over, but with such illusion pockets, it requires it to be broken from within first before any outside forces can get through.

I assumed you did it and allowed me to intervene.”

“Hmmm?” Matilda blinks in confusion. It wasn’t her? Then whose attack was… “Well, I–”

The ground shook and the familiar signs of the statues’ return is eminent. The two stuck close with guards up as something churns within the darkness. Dozens of hands start spilling out as shadows desperately clawing in the void akin to escaping prisoners. They clamber out of the dark and into the space once more.

“They are coming again!” Hands holding her orb firm, she’s ready to fight once more. “Is it another illusion?”

“No, they are not. Please, stay behind me.” The woman says in a confused tone, lightly shielding her from the enemies with her arm. “They look…real?”

Taking the momentary distraction as their chance, the statues move with a sudden speed not present from the previous encounter. Dozens of arms reach out like a tsunami.

“Careful! Watch out!” Matilda cries, ducking from under her arm to position herself between the woman and the oncoming attack. Her orb glows with a prepared incantation and shoots out a large beam, destroying several arms. But more came after without any time to give her preparations for another spell. “They are coming again! Move!”

Both dodge the next set of oncoming attacks and leave craters in its wake. Like deja vu, debris falls with dust clouds forming from the impact. The older woman casts a spell with runes manifesting in the area at a rapid rate towards the enemies. Matilda didn’t dally and just let someone else protect her, it’d be a disgrace to cower as a member of the Foundation! All they need to do is make it to the exit while keeping them at bay.

Yet strangely the statues are far sturdier than the illusions. Their weak points take more hits to crumble and with their more swift movement makes attacking them difficult. She could’ve sworn she’s hearing piercing sounds of something familiar whizzing by and blend into the rest of the chaos to hit the statues, but her distractions to identify it only makes her a liability. Matilda barely avoids a boulder thrown by a statue if it weren’t for the lady tackling her to the floor and behind a rock to hide, tumbling against the rough floor with chunks of stone flying everywhere.

“Are you alright?” Coughing from inhaling dust, she brushes away Matilda’s disheveled milky blond hair to inspect the wounds she gained from the tumble. “Not illusions this time. Too bad. Damn it! How did Kumar do this!”

“Aarh! The pain…” Matilda hisses, really sick of these overgrown mineral nuisances! “What is happening now? I was only here for…”

“Sorry, but it’s not the time for explaining.” The woman says, propping her arms to rise from her lying position. “We are at the exit soon. Remember, leave this village as soon as possible after you’re out. Do not…”

She didn’t finish her sentence and instead pulled Matilda close to her chest. Keeping her head protected, their bodies roll out of the way in time for more boulders to come falling down, destroying the rock they were temporarily hiding behind. The entire cave shook with each slam of the statues’ fists onto the ground. At this rate, the place will definitely collapse now that it’s no longer an illusion!

Matilda peeks out of the protective arms of the woman, watching those arms reach out for them again. Clusterous and in waves, their fingers extending like a nightmarish amalgamation of limbs. For a split second, she almost felt afraid.

“Um.”

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Golden streaks like falling stars. This time Matilda was sure she heard it right despite the deafening sounds of collapsing structures. They’re the familiar sound of gunshots. All hitting its mark on the statues’ bodies in clusters of gold dust, arcanum crackling from the punctures and stalling their movements subtly enough for the unobserving eye to miss. Buying them some time.

“Hey!” A strange voice calls out. “Watch your head!”

Matilda’s held more tightly by the woman protecting her when a shadowy figure moves past her vision. Like a blur, it rapidly scales the stunned statue’s arm, using its shoulder to leap high and strike. The left half of the statue’s face flies across the cave.

A man with a unique yet familiar appearance launches a full assault on the statues, breaking their bodies with his bare hands. His techniques are unconventional, yet the force of the hits sends even the sturdies stones crumbling. Matilda is perplexed.

“Waah!” She watches him take them out one by one, the last statue collapsing towards them. She’s easily pulled to the side by the woman tugging on her sleeve as the giant pile of rubble grazes them by a hair’s breadth, covering them in dust. “Ugh.”

The cave goes quiet again. The debris of the statue piles up in front of them.

“Ha-ah! Phew!” Like a feral creature, the man bursts out of the crumbled remains of his enemies covered head to toe in dirt, brushing off the dust and clambering out of it. He’s even in a jovial mood while doing so. “I almost got killed. Hey, you guys alright? These things are freaky!”

“So, do you know where they came from? My head almost got smashed when I reached the entrance.” He continues to talk, not stopping as he waddles his way out of the heap and towards Matilda. “Hmm, it’s been 11 or maybe 12 years since I left this place. I’m welcomed by these things as soon as I’m back. What a surprise, huh?”

“...?” Matilda blinks, quickly glancing to the side and seeing the woman just as boggled by the strange man. “Is he talking to us?”

“Mmm. Wait.” As he approached, he finally got a better look at Matilda and his eyes widened in bewilderment before brightening up. “Aren’t you the little one from the train station? I helped get your stuff back, remember me?”

The man wipes at his face to clear off more of the dirt in hopes of it helping recognize him. Indeed it has. Matilda realizes who he is and points at him in shock.

“It’s you, the man bitten by the thief!”

“Yeah, it’s me. That was one merciless bite.” He cracks a humorous smile, patting away more dirt off himself. “Ha! What a happy coincidence! Well, this is not the best place for a reunion, but the occasion is not for us to decide.”

“Oh, I should introduce myself this time. The name’s Sharmane.” The man tilts the mask on his head in greeting as if it were a hat. “Sorry, I wasn’t much of a helping hand earlier and let that kid get away. But this time, I have made it up to you, eh? Eh?”

“Oh, emm…”

Matilda casts a hesitant glance at the ruins and to the remains of the stone statues. She’s reminded of the gunshots earlier. From the reactions of the two, they didn’t seem to notice and if she weren’t so focused on the statue, Matilda would’ve missed them as well. With how badly pulverized the stones are now, it’s like those small punctured contributions were dust in the wind. An unsung savior. Just as how that woman likes to operate. She stamps down the rising hope before it starts. No, she couldn’t be… Surely the Foundation would’ve mentioned something…

“You have made it up, I guess?”

“Sorry to interrupt you.” Both of them turn to the woman at the same time, her hand raised up to grab their attention. “But I think this place is safe only for now. It’d be a wise choice to leave as soon as possible. And I mean more than this cave.”

“Actually, are you tourists?” She looks at Matilda in particular. “I’m hoping you can leave this village in a couple of days.”

“Hmmm?” That’s a strange request. Isn’t the festival held in just a few days also?

“I know this sounds weird, but you need to trust me.” She reaches inside the pocket of her coat and tries to take out a stack of files. Matilda can feel her need to make haste. “Huh? Damn, where’s my ID? Ah!”

In her rush to find her things, her grasp on the materials slipped, causing the papers to spill all over the floor. Matilda and Shamane both crouch down to help her.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, lady. Take your time. We’re listening.” He calms her down and collects as much of the papers, including what she’s looking for. “Oh, here’s your ID! Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa? Hold it.”

“Ah, thank you.” Kaalaa Baunaa reaches for the card, but he doesn’t loosen his hand. “...?”

Shamane points at her waist with a shocked look on his face. She follows his gaze and looks down. A pair of tortoiseshell spectacles hangs on her belt, one temple broken.

“This is…No, I can’t be wrong.” He spoke like he'd seen a ghost. “How come you have Kumar’s stuff on your belt?”

“...!” Kaalaa Baunaa stiffens, equally surprised. Unconsciously, she tightens her grasp on her ID. “You…You know Kumar?”

“Hmmm? Kumar? Who’s that?” Matilda returns to their side with the files she found nearby. The situation is getting stranger and stranger. It’s none of her business as she’s only there to meditate, but with it being a dangerous place, that plan’s now disregarded. Matilda values her life more than achieving excellence. More opportunities will present themselves, after all. “And what’s with the shock? I thought we need to leave now.”

She picks up one last paper on the floor with a satisfied nod. There’s no more Matilda can spot so it must be all of them.

“Okay, that’s the last one! Let me see, Page 1, Page 2…” Matilda sifts through the papers, flipping and rearranging it orderly when something in the pages caught her eye. “Page 5, hmm? What? These papers are on celestial energy and exactly one I want to practice on! That’s right. The analysis on the arcane energy is very similar to that in the materials I found. But not completely. 

This one looks…”

What joy and excitement she felt quickly fades, in its place is a cold sinking feeling. Her eyes rapidly scan the contents full of scrawling marks and comments, different statements and circled or crossed out segments. Most of all is the ominous words surrounded in question marks near the bottom of the page.

“Ah! Manus Vindictae?” Matilda’s eyes widened. “What?!”

Unbeknownst to them, from a high vantage point of the cave clung to the shadows, a figure observes from a ledge. Languidly twirling two guns, those eyes pinpoint a small girl entering from the entryway and peeks behind a wall. Looks like someone else is interested in eavesdropping. A journal for documentation is taken out.

“Tsk, what a boring task…but not for long. After all, it’s protocol to help a fellow member… Hmhm~”

———————————————

“And that’s how it goes.”

Matilda’s eyes remain transfixed at the files, sifting through them and absorbing as much of the notes written down as possible while the conversation went on. After she explained that she’s with the Foundation, Kaalaa Baunaa was more willing to explain the situation in detail, which in turn has Shamane telling his connections to this person named Kumar. Now it has led them to their current topic.

“Okay, okay. I think I understood every Hindi word, but none of them make any sense anymore when put together.” Shamane scratches his head, a complicated expression on his face after taking in all the information. “You’re saying, Kumar, that Kumar I know, the sister whom I’ve only seen once in my life…”

“...is also my tutor in university.” Kaalaa Baunaa confirms with a nod.

“Plus, she’s a bad guy associating with the Manus?!” Matilda finally looks up from the documents, eyebrows furrowed in thought. “So these abnormal growth curves… The fluctuation of the celestial energy is a man-made result?”

“Actually, I’m not a hundred percent sure about their association, but yes, your conclusion about the growth curves is right.” So much for meditating under the purest celestial energy…but the situation has changed and Matilda is no longer merely on vacation now. Kaalaa Baunaa calmly takes over the files from her, staring down at them with an unreadable expression. “The fluctuation was caused by an unnamed celestial body, and its existence is only known to Kumar and me.

It was the object of our research at Banner University. At that time, we found some arcanum-level materials very helpful for our project, but then…”

The tale is not new and a fairly common pattern between humans and arcanists. It’s also been taught at the Foundation that mixing arcane theories with human methodologies are frowned upon, even forbidden in institutions of learning. As far as Matilda is aware, LaPlace is the biggest research facility that fully embraces the ideas of combining arcane and human tactics for the betterment of medical advancement. Other intellectual branches of study like astrology have yet to catch onto the trend.

So it’s no surprise once the university found out about Kumar and Kaalaa Baunaa’s secret use of arcanum to do their research that they’re inevitably kicked out from the school program. Yet that didn’t stop them from continuing the project outside. Separately. And with these branching paths, the two women tackled the observation of the celestial body differently, which led to Kaalaa Baunaa detecting the abnormalities and Kumar’s disappearance.

“Our common friend told me she had seen Kumar by coincidence. She saw her leave with the Manus.” Kaalaa Baunaa approaches Matilda and offers her something. In her palm is a small stone figure. Despite its misshapenness, she can tell it’s some sort of idol or totem. “And I found this from what she left behind. I compared it to the hole in the wall. It does come from this cave, and it has something to do with the arcanum-related materials on that celestial body.

But Kumar never makes mistakes. This one is more like a clue she left to me.”

“Hmmm. I don’t understand her.” The behavior is strange, even for people willing to join the Manus. If they have nefarious plans, shouldn’t they not leave as many clues as possible? Unless…

“Judging from the situation, apparently, I’m not the only one “invited.”” 

She raises her right hand, showing them the wrinkled envelope. There is a blue postmark on the envelope and an elephant pattern on the bright yellow seal. Inside the envelope, there is a worn piece of paper with nothing on it.

“Oh, this is getting even stranger than seeing those moving statues!” Shamane ruffles his hair and points to the elephant on the letter’s seal. “Like I said, I am, well, to be more precise, I “almost” am the last living member of my family.”

A family seal passed down to its future heir and said heir losing it years ago to a bear. The odd mystery of receiving a letter with the mark of that seal would no doubt pique one’s curiosity enough to track down the source and find out what’s going on. Only to be led into a well crafted arcane trap.

“But there’s one thing I found weird in what you said.” The man hesitates, shaking his head in confusion. “As far as I know, my sister is even worse than “unqualified,” if taken as an arcanist–She’s almost like a human! It’s nearly impossible for her to use the most basic arcane skills!”

Matilda frowns and glances off to the side. The description of Kumar’s underwhelming arcanum despite a prestigious title reminds her of someone. Two someones, in fact. From both varieties. It seems they aren’t a special case in the realm of mistreatment for not living up to a certain standard. With someone of overwhelming talent such as Matilda, she can only feel empathy for those struggling under such a steep learning curve. Even if they manage to make a breakthrough, will anyone acknowledge them as anything more than a “defect”?

“And this…” Shamane gestures to the crumbled remains of the statues from before. “This is not something a random person from our world can do. Is she really able to control these things?”

“No, she can’t.” Kaalaa Baunaa shakes her head thoughtfully. “But she has a solution–a solution even I’m not aware of. Theoretically, our skills can only create illusions and nothing more. But if the Manus really offered to help her, even though I don’t want to think this way, she may be able to do that.”

“Oh, I forgot about the Manus part.” Crossing his arms, he sighs and shrugs. “Alright. All I know is, if this letter is really an “invitation” from her, I guess this won’t be a delightful trip for me.”

“I’ve heard about that incident in her family, and I don’t think her ultimate purpose is just to gather us here.” She turns and looks at Matilda with a serious but sincere expression. “Thank goodness I met you here, young lady. Can’t believe I ran into a Foundation investigato–”

“Ahem. Don’t, don’t mind the title!” Matilda interrupts quickly, smiling through her nerves. Right now an actual investigator would be nice to have around, but there’s no time to be picky. Fate decided it’s Matilda’s mission to hand, then so be it! “Every member of the Foundation is obligated to contribute to the cause of peace, let alone an arcanist as extraordinary as I am!”

“That’s great.” Kaalaa Baunaa nods her head in gratitude. “Sarasvati blessed me.”

“Yeah, yeah, exactly.” Matilda puffs up her chest with more confidence. She can explain her real status at a later date once she’s in contact with the Foundation, but for now she’ll assist them in any way she can. “How fortunate the Foundation has been to have such an excellent subordinate like I am.”

“I hereby apply for assistance to the Foundation as an astronomy professor and an arcanist.”

“Em, emm?” She pauses, eyes blinking in bewilderment. Well, this is sudden. Is the duty of an investigator in recruiting and registering arcanists this simple? Surely not. “Yes, Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa?”

“Rather than find Kumar and the Manus, we have something more important to do now.” 

“Something more important?”

An asteroid. That is to say, the same celestial body Kaalaa Baunaa and Kumar have been studying is planned to fall and make impact with the village in a few days time, maybe even exactly during the Dīpa Festival. The force of the impact crater is estimated to wipe out the entire village, leaving nothing behind. For this purpose does Kaalaa Baunaa request the aid of the Foundation.

She’s tried other local organizations, but has been turned away as the area’s stationed in a way that no reigning capital is under jurisdiction to it. The reason being it’s a village full of extremely traditional arcanists that want no assistance from any and all organizations that have any human relations. That has made her efforts to evacuate difficult.

With the progression of events from these moving statues to the inevitable fall of the celestial body, Matilda perceives that this Kumar person’s intent isn’t to take care of Kaalaa Baunaa and Shamane alone. No, what she plans could be much more cataclysmic.

“So this, this is her real…”

“Yes. In this case, what happened in the cave was probably nothing more than an experiment.” Kaalaa Baunaa’s expression turns grave. “I’m not sure why she’s doing this, but I won’t allow such an abuse of our hard work. It is our work, after all. That’s why I must stop the star from falling.”

A tense silence fills the air easily broken by a faint scuttling sound and tumbling debris.

“Hmm? Did you guys hear anything?” Shamane’s head snaps up, straining to hear any more sudden movement. But he quickly abandoned the thought, shaking his head. “Nevermind. We’ve been here to long and it’s looking like we have a big case on our hands. Best not talk here where all the freaky stuff just happened. 

There’s eyes and ears in the walls for all we know.”

“I agree, Mr. Shamane.” She nods in agreement, a bit contemplative. “We’ll need a private place to discuss these things. As well as find a lead as to where Kumar could possibly be.”

“If it’s a “base of operation” you’re looking for, I can be of help!” The man gives a bright grin, pounding his chest with a fist. “I used to live here after all. We can stay at my old home. And hey! We might find something worthwhile. Come, it’s not too far if we move at a swift pace.”

The group of three make their way out of the cave as the figure hops down from their perch, light as a feather. Picking up a chunk of the statue’s remains, inspecting it curiously and immediately tossing it after a satisfactory survey. Footsteps follow the pathway paved.

“Evacuation, she says? Hm, only the cold hearted will turn down a request full of sincere compassion for others. Foundation or not, I’ll grant this wish to the best of my abilities.

I’ll meet you soon after…I’m looking forward to it.”

———————————————

Their journey leads them to an old, worn down courtyard. Cracks are climbing up the walls as the corridors are theming with dust and dirt. Not even a single plant is alive. Yet the state of the household is no issue, the immediate issue is a problem that must be dealt with.

Shamane walks to one of the several doors with familiarity. Matilda could hear a faint ruckus somewhere in the courtyard, but it could be in any of the other rooms. From the structure, she’s not inclined to believe the walls are soundproof…

“Ah, the lock’s broken, but that’s okay. I know the place well.” The man inspects the destroyed lock and chalks it up to old age. He turns to the two ladies while opening the door. “Though Kumar hasn’t come here very often in the past years, it’s a good place to start with, at least better than randomly searching like a headless chicken.”

The group paused at the front door, halted by the sight of two people inside the room. One is a woman with braided hair trying to stop a fussy younger girl who looked like she’s been crying. Matilda immediately recognizes her to be Kanjira, the “guide” she hired to help her get to the north cave. Her eyes slowly glance at what they were fighting over, which is a familiar looking leather wallet in the woman’s hand, out of Kanjira’s reach.

“Hey! That in your hand…Is that my wallet?”

Chapter Text

“Thank you so much for understanding, Mr. Sharma and Ms. Bouanich.”

“Ah, please, Madam. You have my admiration for voluntarily taking care of these kids. Besides, technically speaking, this room doesn’t belong to me anymore…”

Currently, the group of five people are sitting around the room after settling down from the surprise meeting. The room is small and dusty with the couch near the coffee table barely enough to fit three people. So Shamane and Matilda voluntarily sat on the floor. 

“But you heard what the lady said–I don’t even know if the house will survive the meteor.”

Everyone in the room falls into silence. The coming crisis makes them heavy in mind. Shamane magically takes out several ceramic cups from his luggage and a water pouch made of animal hide.

“This is the latest Darjeeling tea.” Pouring the pouch’s content onto each cup, he feels the temperature before passing around a share for each person. His words are light and calm, it’s an attempt to lighten the mood. For the brief time Matilda has known him, the man’s a rather carefree person full of hidden wisdom. It reminds her of…No, stop it! “Some locals gave it to me when I went across this village. Ah, careful. It’s hot.”

When a cup is passed over to Kanjira, Matilda suddenly remembers her grievances with her. So she snatches the cup away before the other girl can take it and points to her accusingly.

“You two are in it together?” Just how carefully planned out was that train station theft to begin with?! To constantly keep disrespecting Matilda’s generosity is appalling! “You’ve been lying to me all this time?!”

“Hey, quiet before Ms. Sherjah.” Kanjira brushes her off, taking back the cup to enjoy. She has no remorse for her many deceptions. It’s irritating! “You don’t lose anything, my lady. Please forgive me, will you? Now pass me cookies! I need fill my belly and get to work!”

Matilda grumbles, but passes her the plate of cookies provided by Ms. Sherjah anyway. The woman seems to be a caretaker of sorts to kids like Kanjira, using the old abandoned Sharma courtyard as a living space. It’s an admirable thing to do and Matilda knows not to hold grudges, especially to those unfortunate. There are many people struggling to make a living, such a magnanimous and refined lady like her can show unending forgiveness to those that slight her.

Kaalaa Baunaa handles the explanation as she’s more knowledgeable about the oncoming disaster about to befall on the village. It’s a coincidence that Sherjah actually reads about her research papers and even attends a college in Chandigarh. She receives more respect from Matilda at the fact she goes out of her way to go there to care for the children equally be it human or arcanist while earning nothing but contempt from the locals.

Speaking of the locals, their stubborn ways have become more issues than running out any human tourist who comes there. Majority of the people that can be reasoned with have long moved out to settle in bigger cities like Chandigarh with only the truly traditionalist old men and their children stayed. It’s a hard juncture to tackle from what Matilda can see. She always follows the words and teachings of her elders as they’re wise and can enrich her with knowledge she has yet to find herself through experience. Yet she has enough tact to understand that come age is a sense of stagnation and only truly the most enlightened can keep improving from a certain point. Many arcanists believe sticking to their original roots will give them that chance, which means keeping their connections “pure” and untainted by human concepts or logic.

With such bullheaded elderly, the young pious children could only follow their example. Kaalaa Baunaa’s attempts to plead her case with them are fruitless; be it her lack of arcane authority or something else based on reputation. And with the estimated time of impact to be around the day of the festival, they don’t have time to individually plead their case to them. What they need to do is act.

“The silver lining is, we have the helping hand of Ms. Bouanich. She will try to contact the Foundation as soon as possible. But we still need to evacuate every villager we can…”

Matilda gives a wary smile. She will do what she can.

———————————————

The courtyard is largely overgrown with weeds and unattended foliage that Matilda has to wade through to find a good spot. A plan to divide and conquer was settled among the groups: Sherjah and Kanjira are to go try to convince everyone in the village to evacuate while Kaalaa Baunaa and Shamane sift through everything within the room for clues about Kumar. Matilda’s task is to perform her duty as “Foundation investigator” and attempt to call for backup.

With the room currently occupied, she looks around the courtyard for a quiet enough place to do what she needs to. The perfect spot is at one of the farthest corners of the yard almost bordering into a forestry area beyond the hearing range of the two people’s clamor as long as Matilda keeps it down. After confirming the privacy, she rummages in her bag for the one item she always carries aside from her crystal ball.

“Great!” She takes out a compact device. “It finally comes in handy.”

“SPF-1 Portable Contact Device activated. Welcome.”

A standard issue tool for any and all workers of the Foundation; mainly to assistants. Matilda always looks forward to the day it would become useful to her and the constant space it takes up to be worth it. She found it bothersome at times that even if she’s never really in a situation that requires it, she must have it on hand at all times, even in the Foundation walls. She also remembers the instructions on how it’s a sound sensitive tool that requires as clear a sound bite as possible. Such human technologies are so finicky and inconvenient compared to a simple communication crystal that Matilda can make in a day! Nevertheless, she must follow protocol.

“Arcane skill verification activated.” The device beeps to life, radiating a small amount of arcane energy. “Please make sure you are not equipped with any wands. Read out the random incantation displayed on the screen clearly. Make sure your tone remains stable.”

“Ahem,” Matilda prepares herself. Another irate bug of the tool is that a good amount of times it can’t detect her identity due to her glorious accent. So she must be slow and articulate the words properly. A real test of Matilda’s patience. “Fuego Burn.”

“Verification success.” Approving her verification, it flicks to an image of her pixelated profile next to her rank. “Registered user: Matilda Bouanich. Access level: D. No abnormal arcane skill fluctuation detected in the area so far. Level D access only supports Quick Report.”

“Hmm? Insufficient access?! The description says…” Matilda quickly checks the instruction manual that comes along with the device to confirm its uses. “Ah, so only an investigator can request backup through this system.”

So much for being useful! What’s the point of carrying it around if certain actions like requesting for backup are barred by ranking?! Has there never been a situation where a Foundation assistant is caught in a crisis that risks many people’s lives and involves the Manus?! Surely that’s reason enough to give her access, right?! Matilda stomps her foot.

“No. Does this mean I will miss the opportunity to study the celestial energy, plus blow my chance to capture the Manus?” Her personal reasons aside, the opportunity to shine in front of superiors is few and far between for Matilda. To let such a chance like this slip away, who knows when’s the next time it’ll happen. Her dream of becoming an investigator… “The reception is terrible here. How am I going to get in touch with the Foundation!”

“Hey, Matilda!” She turns back into the courtyard at the sound of Shamane’s voice. “If you like, there should be the last two pieces of Plera-J on the table! Remember to have them with tea, or it’s going to hurt your throat and ruin your beautiful voice.”

“O, oh! Merci, Mr. Shamane! Don’t mind if I do!” Matilda sighs and decides to go back in to retrieve the remaining cookies, perhaps get another cup of fresh tea. The best way to clear her head of these frantic thoughts is to meditate with good treats. She must thank the man for his endless care.

The two adults are discussing the mythologies and idols when Matilda arrives to take the plate of snacks and some tea. About deities of balance and destruction. How these “myths” seen by the human mind are the ground basis for a reality only arcanists can see possible. A connection that can support each other unilaterally.

“If arcanists and humans could get along, I suppose the world would have developed faster than it does now.”

Matilda walks back out quietly, the words sink thoughtfully in her head. Is it really the case? Can the world truly advance in leaps and bounds if they just got along? To these people, unknowing of the Storm, in an era far back into what the world should be in now, they yet see the outcome of the union between humans and arcanists. The Foundation’s just the tip of that iceberg.

She thinks of that woman again.

Among the foliage, Matilda finds a clear spot to sit on against a tree. She crosses her legs and sips her tea after slow deep breaths. Then, she meditates and feels the existence of the universe. The Meditator’s Realm is the research paper she’s interested in studying on, a way to enrich her perception of divination and better connect herself with a reality beyond human eyes can perceive. Can humans truly not believe anything they cannot see? And what if they do see it? Many blindly turn away from that truth, even go insane with such knowledge.

Arcanists are born with a natural talent to adapt and accept the “meaningless things” much more quickly in comparison. Just as easily as Matilda learns and adapts to the Foundation ideology of “logical and uniformity” without a hitch. Yet in her core lingers something more. Back in the days of poems and oak trees. Of songs sung by children that only want to be understood. And of soft, frail hands no bigger than her own secretly passing her citrus as a thank you gift.

To the resounding chorus of fanfare and flying doves. To beautiful emerald eyes and vibrant orange hair contrasting the parade’s stark white color; ethereal, everlasting. Unattainable.

Matilda gasps, clutching her head. A slight twinge of pain from her meditative state interrupted by the imbalance of thoughts. Dammit, she thought of her again. She roughly shakes her head to rid of the haze and any lingering images of a rather infuriating persistence.

“Thoughts of her still breaks your concentration, I see~”

Everything stills.

It can’t be…!

She stands up abruptly, nearly spilling the tea and cookies on the floor. But that’s far from Matilda’s priority. Up above the tree she leaned on is where her eyes direct themselves. A gentle, quiet sound, like a soft breeze comes as the figure descends from her perch. Dark brown curls, piercing red eyes, and the scattering of feathers following the sharp scent of citrus. Like a distant memory or a waking illusion. Her smile is still as coy and annoying as before.

“Ciau, paparedda~” A singsong voice. Sultry, tender and one Matilda hasn’t heard in a while speaks in a language that rolls off her tongue naturally. A language Matilda personally learned to understand in exchange for the other learning French. “Assai avi ca nun ni videmu. Comu va?”

Matilda punches her on the chest. She punches her again. And again. Weak, powerless. Barely the strength of a light tap–she keeps hitting her. Against a chest she doesn’t remember being so sturdy and unflinching, wearing clothes ridiculously scandalous yet within her taste of fashion that Matilda barely recalls. Could so much change happen in just a year? She didn’t look up, she refused to see. Eyes stinging with unshed tears.

The endless assault only stops the moment thin tender arms wrap around Matilda’s shoulders, guiding her to move close and press her face against the other’s collarbone. She closes her eyes, ignoring the dampness of her cheeks and the desperation expressed by her fingers tightly clutching leather that can leave creases. She takes in the smell of oranges. It’s something that hasn’t changed about her.

“Va te faire voir!”

“...Scusa.”

“You think you can just show up and, and…!!” Matilda weakly punches her again, her anger and frustration simmering down to resignation. “...I will not forgive you.”

“I won’t ask forgiveness either.” Callous hands wipe away her tears tenderly and slowly coax her back onto the ground. “Hit me to your heart’s content, I will not complain. Shall I bear more skin for you to hit, hm~?”

“The gesture’s pointless with you dressed like that! Honestly…” Scoffing, she easily sunk against her, soft like putty. Out of spite, Matilda even adds extra weight on her for good measure, but the brunette doesn’t complain. She never complains. “...You never wrote back.”

“But I received your letters. They’re safely tucked away with absolute care. Every last one.” Matilda feels a comforting hand rub circles on her back like soothing a petulant child. She slaps it away to the amusement of the other. “I make sure to worship its grace and magnificence like you instructed.”

“Schneider.” Matilda finally looks into those vivid red eyes. She should never doubt the institution’s intentions, but… “What happened? The Foundation said you…”

“I will have to stop you there for your own sake, paparedda.” A finger touches her mouth, halting her words. While usually Matilda would be irritated by this, she knows exactly why she’s stopped. For that, she’s grateful. “You don’t have to be my ally, remember? All I ask is for you to be my friend.

Believe in the Foundation’s words as I will graciously accept punishment for my “insubordination” from them. It gladdens me to see you well and getting more excellent each day. Have you grown taller? You tower over me now, hmhm~”

Matilda scoffs, silencing the woman’s sweet talking before she starts by shoving a cookie in her mouth. She won’t get away with it so easily this time. Even though whatever happened wasn’t her choice. Matilda gnaws on the last cookie while deep in thought. 

For the Foundation to cover up Schneider’s disappearance for a whole year and not announce her return is mixed with deeper meanings a genius like her is privy to. But she doesn’t want to involve herself in it. Matilda has her own path she wants to seek and that falls in line to being against many of the views and actions the brunette tends to do. Personal opinions aside, she will not waste her hard work over friendship, which Schneider understands, but…

Hold on.

Schneider’s here.

“Attends!” Matilda sat up abruptly, gripping the other’s shoulders firmly. “You are here! You must aid us as deemed by Foundation protocol, we are in a serious situation!”

“I am aware. A request for backup in evacuating civilians, yes?” Schneider casually chews on the cookie. “All tourists and villagers that can be reasoned with are long gone. Only ones remaining are the truly stubborn elderly and their ever faithful young. Not even my jurisdiction as a Foundation member seemed to deter them. 

Something about a lack of people making it not as serious as I make it sound. Hmph, it is like they think they are better than higher authority.”

“Eh, pardon? You already…?” Matilda starts shaking her wildly. She knew it! She knew she wasn’t hallucinating those gunshots in the cave! Was she there the whole time?! How long had Schneider been following her with Matilda knowing?! “You were there?! Why didn’t you show yourself in the first place?!! It could have saved me the headache of many things!”

“Ah, fermati, fermati! ” Shrugging her insistent hands off, Schneider shakes her head. “It is not like I am on vacation, paparedda . I’m here under reconnaissance. I was only to observe and document, not let my presence be known, okay? 

Although fate had other plans having us meet this way, mia amica. We may be able to help each other. From what I gathered so far, this crisis needs extraordinary talent like yours.”

Reconnaissance? Does that mean this area has been under the Foundation’s radar for potential Manus activities from the start? Matilda didn’t think they’d be so meticulous, but given they would send out Schneider for the job, then they have their doubts and wish to get physical confirmation from it.

“Then you got the answer, right?” She hands the brunette her SPF-1 contact device, desperate to have any way to contact the Foundation. There’s still civilians in the village even Schneider couldn’t persuade along. And if the Manus truly is involving themselves, they’ll need as much man power they can get. “We need to get in touch with the Foundation! My position doesn’t allow me access to call for backup, but you are one of the most special cases so–!”

“Oh, uhm…” Matilda didn’t like the apologetic way Schneider is looking at her right now. Dare she thinks that she almost looks sheepish. “Apologies, but… With my “current status” yet being revealed to the majority, I’m not authorized to contact through the mainline source. I can get in touch with Madam Z or even My Lord, but by then the backup would be…”

“Ugh, what use are you being here then?!” It’s a cry of frustration with not really meaning her words. Matilda collapses against Schneider and the older woman pats her back comfortingly, unfazed by her dramatics. “If Ms. Sherjah and Kanjira don’t successfully convince the remaining villagers to leave, we will be defenseless when the Manus arrive…”

“You really have no faith in my capabilities, don’t you? But you have a point.” She takes the compact device from Matilda, the screen still at the selection menu with the only available choice being the quick report. “Although this block of metal is not as useless as you think. It’s not written in the manual, but it has a design to allow you an immediate call for emergency response once irregular arcane fluctuation is detected. With time, you can actually get help.”

“It will be too late by then!” Matilda groans and rubs her face in frustration. “Oh, it would be less of a problem if we had a way to locate Kumar before anything progressed further!”

“Well losing your composure won’t help you, paparedda. Perhaps another meditation session will do you good. After all, with your excellent talent, anything is possible.” Schneider offers her the neglected cup on the ground, its content remains nice and hot. “A fine blend of herbs and spices. Does it not remind you of the late nights of watching you practice divination together, yes?”

Herbs and spices…Herbs and…spices….Spices.

Spices!

“I got it. I got it!!” She was on her feet in seconds, snatching the cup away from a perplexed Schneider. Of course! It’s so simple! Why didn’t she think of it before? And the ingredients are fortunately at her disposal! Matilda is truly blessed for greatness! “Oh, I need to inform Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa and Mr. Shamane of this. I’m so smart! Matilda is the greatest!”

Schneider watches Matilda run off with the hot tea in her hands, hooting and hollering about her own magnificence. Chuckling, the brunette shakes her head and dusts herself off while standing. She got ready to follow and introduce herself to the individuals helping to stop the situation from worsening, but stopped. The brunette’s attention immediately snapping towards the direction of the dense village streets. Her high senses detect something faint and peculiar.

“Hmm, she says I have no use so I should make myself more useful… I’ll meet your new friends at a better time, paparedda. For now, let’s cover all our bases here. Can’t leave the civilians undefended for too long…”

Matilda rushed back to the courtyard and into the room, unaware that her companion wasn’t following. She’s too caught up with her discovery and must act on it immediately! Time is of the essence. Bursting into the room, she cries triumphantly!

“Ah-ha! A genius you are, Matilda!”

“Hahaha, running and jumping around with hot tea. I sure know the fun within.” Shamane chuckles good naturedly at her enthusiasm. “But at my age, with the benefit of hindsight, I have to tell you to be careful. You might get burned by the tea.”

“No, no!” She quickly shakes her head, explaining the misunderstanding. “It’s the spice! The spice in the tea!”

“More spice to it?” The man grows confused but entertains the idea nevertheless. “Hmm. I do have a dozen kinds of different spices with me. Looks like you’re very used to them in tea.”

“Exactly, these spices!” Matilda pats herself on the chest proudly. “Now it’s time for Matilda to show you her best shot! Hey, can you help pre–”

She turns back to no one and pauses. Her momentum temporarily halted, but Matilda quickly shrugs it off and gets to work arranging the work space herself. Wherever that woman has run off to again, she has faith it’s to aid them in the shadows again. Honestly, can’t she just help them normally! All the skulking around always makes her look suspect.

“The orb, cumin…” Matilda prepares fast, the situation requires it to be a rush job with the coffee table being a small space to work around. But a genius like her knows how to adapt to any situation. “Oh! You also have clove blossom here! Fantastic.”

“The crystal divination.” Kaalaa Baunaa starts catching on to her intentions, picking up the clear blue crystal for a better look. “I’ve spent too much time in the human world to remember the convenience of arcanum.”

“If I can foresee any sign about Kumar, our problem will be ended!” She puffs up with pride. “With the help of the great Matilda, of course!”

With all three sat around the makeshift divination table, Matilda clears her head and enhances her focus. It’s time to get serious.

“Hmm, okay, take a deep breath, give me your hands, rest them on top of mine. Yes, like that.” Closing her eyes and lowering her voice barely above a whisper, she connects and adjusts the flow of her arcanum to be in sync with the others around her. A gentle light starts emitting from the crystal ball. “Now, think of Kumar in your head.”

Two people that are familiar with the person gives them a higher chance of locating her more accurately. Matilda meticulously wades through the foggy expanse of the astral space, plucking faint glimmers of similarity with the expertise and precision capable only of a protege like her. A solid shape immediately starts to develop, the commonality between the two arcanists’ recollection of the person; a pair of tortoiseshell spectacles with a broken temple. Yet strangely it’s not the actual visage of the person.

“...? Odd…”

Nevertheless she presses forward. Finding a connection, Matilda delves deeper into the arcane stream in search of the closest aura matching it. Her search leads her somewhere and a vivid image of a place starts forming. Yet it’s an unexpected location that felt…off.

“What, what is this? Is that the train station?”

That can’t be right. Surely if Kumar was really hiding there, many people would’ve seen her by now. Matilda tries to look for another sign as to where she could be located, but instead of getting a clearer vision, the fog encroached rapidly along with a mass of black slime. An ominous premonition took its place.

“...!” A black mask of sharp edges like two hands covering the eyes. An item she knows well from her training. “There are…”

Matilda snaps open her eyes.

“The Manus already reached Mor Pankh?!”

Chapter Text

Passing street after street in a whirlwind blur, Matilda runs at top speed with all her might, trying not to fall behind the two. The situation has turned extremely dangerous now! If the Manus has arrived at the train station, then anyone who hasn’t evacuated yet is trapped and at risk of getting killed! Even if Matilda has faith that Schneider has already gone ahead of them, she’s only one person. They must act quick.

The train station was eerily abandoned once they arrived. Matilda hopes that’s a sign of everyone fortunately making it out on time. It didn’t take long though for them to hear a commotion not too far from them. A large number of Manus followers were all congregating on a specific area where a familiar figure crawled on the floor.

“Ah! It hurts. Oh, no, I’m dead for sure.”

Kanjira!

“Pafisto Pecise!” Matilda rushes forward, casting a spell on the move. A ribbon of celestial light coils around the attack and absorbs the force. She tugs the line that allows the swallowed up attack to bounce back onto the enemy. “Phew! So glad I caught up in time.”

“There are people over here!” Kaalaa Baunaa calls out, locating more civilians hiding behind pillars. “Let’s take her first.”

“This place is going to be dangerous.” Fists flying, Shamane takes out a few Manus followers in a flurry, keeping the waves at bay. But they’ll be easily overrun if they stay too long. “I know a place. It’s close to here. Come, take them this way!”

Their group moves to herd the injured towards safety, Shamane and Kaalaa Baunaa supporting those that can’t move as quickly. Persistent and unyielding, more of the Manus started coming after hearing the noise they were making.

“Humph, you dirty, filthy, less-than-elegant mugs!” Matilda shouts, her crystal ball radiating a lethal glow. “Matilda won’t even sweat bringing you down! May the peace be with us!”

It’s not everyday that Matilda encounters members of the Manus and she’s getting first hand experience on just how sturdy they are. Her attacks, while precise, sinks into them like a stick pushing through sludge. The more heavily deformed ones don’t even flinch. A cold sweat creeps up her back.

“Matilda!” Kaalaa Baunaa turns back to make sure the young girl’s alright, making a move to assist. Yet she stops the astronomer’s attempts.

“Focus on the civilians, Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa!” Gritting her teeth, she deflects an oncoming attack and forces it back towards the enemy. This tactic is the most effective for her case. If her might is not enough, then she must be resourceful! “Do not worry about me, I will be right behind everyone! Leave this to the Foundation’s greatest member, Matilda!”

Concern swirls in her eyes, but Kaalaa Baunaa nods nonetheless and pushes forward in assisting the others’ escape. To earn the trust and respect from an exceptional researcher of the stars; Matilda will not disappoint her! Besides, she’s not so arrogant to handle the Manus alone, even with her immense talent. She has support.

Familiar golden streaks shower down mercilessly. They pierce the enemies, silent yet the poison runs deep. Each bullet’s built-in arcane infusion activates, causing its true effects to run rampant from the puncture area, spreading throughout the body. Matilda takes this chance to give herself distance and catch up with the others.

From the direction the shots came from, she spots Schneider poised above the roof of one of the stores nearby. Red meets blue as the Italian woman mouths words while shooting with fluid motion.

“Leave everything to me. Use the time well.”

Idiot!

Her jaw clenches, but she didn’t hesitate to run. Every fiber of her being screamed to stay with the foolish woman, yet her duty to the people comes first out of everything. They both know that. So Matilda casts her concerns as a friend aside and places her trust in the abilities of the Timewarden. She ignores the stinging of her eyes.

———————————————

“Ah, ouch. Is your medic skill really okay?”

“Hah? Are you questioning my skill?” Matilda glares at the fussy girl, trying to wrap her wounds without aggravating them any further. “I was always, for most of the time, the best student in the first aid class! There, the pain is gone, yeah?”

Kanjira pauses in her whining and looks at her wounds in surprise. As if she didn’t expect it to have ended so quickly, she lightly brushes against her bandaged injuries. “Well, hmmm, not bad.”

“Hey, I’m not done with your stealing!” Matilda pats her on the wound to show her discontent. Honestly, this girl has no manners! Always receiving Matilda’s kindness with contempt!

“Hey, hey, hey.” Kanjira cringes, shrinking away from her grasp. “Ah! I already apologize!”

“Humph, slick!” Matilda turns her eyes toward the two people standing under the tree. “Hmm. I didn’t expect to see this. What a spacious yard for a house located right next to the train station!”

They sought refuge within the old abandoned courtyard of the Sharma household, a massive sacred fig stood at the center with its branches and roots long withered away. Matilda could even mistake it to be charred with how dead and dark its trunk looks. To think Shamane lives separate from his actual family home leaves her wondering, but she’s not one to pry on personal affairs.

For now, it’s a good place to hide from the Manus. While she doesn’t have much experience with them, Matilda knows from training about the different types of members they have based on ranking and appearance. So far she only saw lowly followers both pre and post-deformed, these kinds are fortunately dim witted, running on pure instinct. They won’t think to look inside homes with its entrances closed off by strong protective spells.

Matilda decides to leave the two adults in their conversation and focus on treating the civilians. She spots Kanjira making moves at the corner of her eye. She immediately halts her. This girl! Is she seriously intending to move about in such a condition?! Arcanist or not, she’s being stupid if she runs around with those injuries!

“Don’t even think about it! The painkillers won’t last long.” As soon as Kanjira stands up, Matilda pushes her back to the seat. “There’s no way you can drive with a wounded foot!”

“But Sherjah is still out there!” Kanjira protests, her face scrunched up in deep concern. “She can’t use any arcane skills. If she find by the mask monster…”

“Even, even if you are right on this, I can’t just let you…” It would be too risky for her and anyone else hiding from the Manus. Then Schneider’s diversions will go in vain as well. The situation is delicate. “Hmmm?”

An insistent beeping sound came loud and muffled from her bag. She quickly takes out her issued contact device, the tool vibrating insistently. On its screen is a gauge leveling the irregular arcane fluctuations around the area having reached code red. Could this be…?!

“Source of abnormal arcane skill fluctuation confirmed. Similar faction: Manus Vindictae. Margin of error: 0.121% Emergency support application sent.” The device flickers, accessing the restricted option and activating the request. “Adjusted support application priority to: HIGH.”

“Does it mean we can ask the Foundation for backup now?” Just as Schneider said, the device is designed to immediately call for assistance the moment the Manus is around. Better late than never, then! “This is great! People, I finally got in touch with the Foundation!”

“Yeah?” The two look over from their conversation by the fig tree, Shamane smiling bright. “That’s good news!”

“But the Manus is still wandering out there.” Kaalaa Baunaa murmurs, troubled by their circumstances still. “Before the Foundation evacuates them, the village will be destroyed. We can’t just sit around and watch.”

Matilda bites her lip, wanting to inform them about their hidden assistance. It’s protocol to set aside their currently assigned duties to provide aid of any Foundation personnel against the Manus, which Schneider is already doing. But she can’t just give them hope only to find out their “backup” at the moment is only one person. Even if Matilda acknowledges the brunette’s exceptional skills for her character, it’s not enough to comfort those that only see one against a whole army. They’re running out of options.

“There is another way.”

“Way?” Matilda is shocked. Could there be something even her genius mind couldn’t think of? “What way?”

“If she can do it, I can do it, too. Maybe I can find traces of her if I enter the Realm.” Kaalaa Baunaa’s eyes fix on a stone. She’s lost in her thoughts. “Because I also mastered the meditation skills. Yes, that’s right. I know the path inside.”

“Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa?” Matilda didn’t like the look in her eyes and her quiet muttering as the older woman walked over to a basin full of filthy water. Something about it didn’t sit right with her. Could it be the desperation in her tone due to their position? She’s like a cornered animal.

And Shamane seems to agree with her sentiment, stopping Kaalaa Baunaa.

With age comes wisdom, but even that statement isn’t true most times. Matilda knows when to let others handle a case where her magnificence is lacking in experience. She glances around the courtyard to keep busy while Shamane talks some sense to Kaalaa Baunaa for a bit. Matilda spots Kanjira sitting obediently on the spot she left her, the one kid from before, Arja, checking in on her. She’s fortunately staying put for now.

Her thoughts then turn to the remaining villagers still out there hiding and fleeing from the Manus. Then to Schneider doing what she can to help. It’s been a little over a year since Matilda has heard from the brunette, so she couldn’t gauge the other’s prowess and skills she’s earned from that long period. She’s placing her faith on her purely because she’s all they have at the moment and because if there’s anyone that can potentially match Matilda’s great adaptability in learning; it’s Schneider. Sonetto doesn’t count…

Matilda clutches her chest and sends out a silent prayer to the stars. She looks to the darkening sky, listening to the final decision of the people around her as she closes her eyes. Everyone’s fighting for the peace and safety of this village. Let their efforts yield success and not let any sacrifice be in vain.

The next time her eyes open is to the deep orange sky slowly turning to night and Kaalaa Baunaa preparing to sink into the basin full of water. Trap or not, they’ll all do what they can. Everyone gathers around the ceramic vat in the yard.

“Oh, before I go..” Kaalaa Baunaa hands the Vishnu stone idol to Matilda.

“Hmm?” She takes it carefully, holding the statuette delicately as if it were to crumble. “Aren’t you going to take it with you, Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Shamane has a point. This is our last chance to win this fight, and it should be kept away from Kumar as far as possible.”

“Emm.” It’s not safe to enter any meditative state without something to ground her while traversing among the astral planes. If that’s the case, then… Matilda takes out her crystal charm and hands it over to the astronomer. “Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa, take this with you, then!”

“This is your…”

“My pendulum! It’s one of my collections, one of the purest! Even I don’t have a lot of them around.” Matilda nods with a smile. Let it be enough to protect her. “I realized that the theory of meditation you’ve talked about is quite similar to some of the crystal divination theories. So, perhaps this will help you in the water, if the crystal can stabilize the magnetic field and guide you in there.”

“You…” The look on her face is priceless. She looks both shocked and impressed at the same time.

“Humph, no need to be surprised.” Matilda puffs up with pride. “This is how quickly a genius can think!”

“...Thank you.”

Along with the others, Matilda watches Kaalaa Baunaa sink into the tub, head fully submerged. Now all they can do is wait. Shamane goes over to sit against the base of the tree in order to meditate himself while everyone else disperses. Matilda is left to pace around in place since that’s all she can do.

The breeze carries the faint scent of oranges.

Her steps halt and immediately turn, walking towards a specific direction. She made sure no one spots her as she slips into a more quiet segment of the courtyard, away from prying eyes. Matilda looks around for signs of her.

“Schneider?” She keeps her voice low so as not to alert anyone. It’s only her intuition telling her that the brunette is there, but there’s no telling if it’s actually a Manus member on patrol. “It’s okay to come out. No one will pry.”

Drip.

“Hmm?” Matilda stiffens, the sensation of something wet hits her cheek. Wiping it away, she feels her body run cold at the bright red shade staining her fingertips. Blood. The scent of iron mixed with citrus is overwhelming.

She looks up.

Matilda wanted to scream.

“Pardon my…unsightly state, paparedda. ” The woman has the gall to even smile that way! Covered head to toe in blood both her own and others, it’s unsanitary! She falls gently like a feather and Matilda catches her easily, regardless of her clothes staining. She’s concerningly light. “I, ahem, don’t suppose you are willing to… demonstrate the extraordinary medical skills you’ve attained over the year we last seen each other, hm~?”

“If not me, then who?!” Matilda hisses at her, helping the brunette sit on the ground and lean against the wall. Fortunately she brought an extra strong healing potion at all times within her first aid kit for such emergencies. She first forces the stubborn woman to drink it before tending to her wounds. They’re an ugly sight. Must be painful if not for the brunette’s high pain tolerance. “You’d most likely just leave these wounds to rot until you die! Hmph, how can you be so foolish and careless?!”

“Caution and preservation wasn’t allotted to me this time, bedda. ” Schneider sighs, taking out the magazines of her guns and starts replacing them with a different set. Even as Matilda disinfects her wounds, the brunette wastes no time. “They are growing in numbers. It won’t be long until I cannot hold them off and the villagers hiding will be harmed. Without a quick mode of transport, they’re left stranded.”

“...How much time can you provide us?” It’s not a matter of how much longer can Schneider hold on for, Matilda knew she would continue even if she’s at her worst. The brunette only came to get treatment for Matilda’s peace of mind. It’s annoying, but she’ll let it slide for now. They have work to do.

“Give or take, five, maybe ten minutes. Tops.” Once Matilda finishes bandaging the last wound, Schneider’s up on her feet without complaint. She gives her signature grin, patting her head and ruffling her milky blonde hair. “Thank you, paparedda. You’re as stellar and as amazing as always. Best get back to work, then. Ciao~ ”

“Ah, wait!” Matilda grabs her wrist out of reflex. Seriously?! She’s just going to up and leave after getting what she needs out of her?! While the circumstances are dire and she understands time is of the essence, is this how they’re going to keep ending their reunions after so long?! “....”

Yet Matilda could only grit her teeth.

No, Matilda, focus. They’ll have time to talk personally, but right now it’s a matter of life or death! They’ll see each other later. Right?

“...” Schneider releases a quiet breath, bringing her hand up to the back of Matilda’s head, guiding her forward. Has she really grown so much that she's taller than her now? She feels a gentle sensation graze her right cheek, then her left. Matilda’s face turns bright red.

She..!!

“Prumissu ca nun sparisciu cchiù.” Her tone is so tender that Matilda almost forgot she’s the older one between them. Somehow the fact Schneider never once made her feel small is what’s making her feel exactly that in that moment. “Attenti e stati sicuri, paparedda. A prestu.”

As quick as the passing breeze, Schneider’s gone, leaving no trace of her presence except the subtle citrus scent. Matilda balls her fists tightly, personally choosing not to understand the woman’s native tongue for that moment alone. Never a moment where she just hits a nerve with her actions. Honestly…

“Tu ferais bien de revenir…”

Kaalaa Baunaa remains submerged when Matilda returns to the central courtyard after cleaning the stains enough to look like dirt smudges. She pays no mind to the questioning look on Kanjira’s face. She doesn’t need to explain where she went when it’s only for a brief moment. But to the meditator, that moment is an extensive lifetime.

“She’s been in there for, emm, 4 minutes 26 seconds.” Matilda’s kept a close eye on how long she’s been gone to avoid the risk of someone spotting Schneider’s bloody appearance and causing a scene. It’s also to monitor the astronomer’s condition. “Is this a reasonable length of time? I remember I once learned about the ideal time length for meditation in one of the elective classes.

What’s more, she’s holding her breath underwater.”

There are many styles and ways to meditate while using various catalysts to stabilize the process. If the method on which Kaalaa Baunaa is using to enter the Meditator’s Realm is similar to crystal divinations by principle, then there will be a hard limit to it where it will then expel them from sinking any deeper. By that logic, then the maximum length of meditation would be…

Exactly on the five minute mark, the vat containing Kaalaa Baunaa bursts into pieces, its contents spilling out and seeping into the soil. The woman coughs violently, cold and drenched with a despondent atmosphere compared to her state before entering. Something wasn’t right.

“Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa!” Matilda rushes to her side along with Shamane and Kanjira.

“Leave here.” She coughs, “Now, get everyone.”

“Did, did you see Kumar?!” And what did she do to her… “What happened?”

“I’m the one to blame. Damn it!”

Matilda frowns, watching helplessly as the woman beats herself up over her own foolish actions. Whether her intentions to track Kumar down was out of a selfish desire to meet her again, her compassion for others runs deep that she’d bear the responsibility of stopping a calamitous event from happening.

Desire is the great devourer.

To sink so deep into obsession; to meet someone again, to let others see what you’re capable of, to get revenge on those that did them wrong. Falling into the trap is so easy, even for tender souls like Kaalaa Baunaa. Matilda finds it hard to grasp that desire so desperate that it can ruin her. Is it a matter of having tempered herself before it took root or was she just too young to fall for such things and will eventually meet that same experience in life? Orange hair and green eyes flash into her mind and suddenly she feels cold. Will she too…?

“You don’t have to feel bad about trusting people.”

Matilda looks up at the sight of two figures. A soaked, downtrodden woman and a gentle, yet gruff man bearing decades worth of wisdom. Two strangers that only met each other that morning, but have built a strong bond. Matilda thinks on it and looks around. In reality, she just met everyone on that day too. Yet she trusts them and their capabilities just as they do with hers. Selfless, unconditional trust. In the end, Kaalaa Baunaa cares for the people while also admitting to her selfish wishes without letting it cloud her judgment.

“Life is a long fight where we outsmart one opponent and get outsmarted by the other.”

Those words resonate with her, unlocking a deep memory of the past. Yes, didn’t she have the same conversation before with someone? It’s different, but the intention is the same. Matilda hasn’t thought back to those days in a long time…

———————————————

“Think of it like…a game.”

“Game?” Sapphire eyes meet crimson.

“Yes, like a game.” Pale fingers hover over crystals laid out like starlight, almost hesitant to touch them. Gentle. Appraising. “A game where you think better than other.”

“Think better…” Matilda writes it down on a journal full of scribbles, visible with the aid of her glowing crystals. “Outsmart. In this context, the goal is to win against the enemy through intelligence. So, the word will be; vaincre .”

“Outsmart… Vaincre …” Like a prayer her lips repeat the words over and over. Memorizing it in her heart. “ Capisco . I got it.”

“This is all a game to you?” They continue their conversation, weaving lessons in between. A routine built in only a month’s time. Matilda is irritated.

“They make it a game I have to play.”

“You have to play? They?” She pauses in her writing and looks up indignantly. Is she implying…?! “How dare you suggest the Fou–”

“Shh.”

A finger is pressed against her lips, silencing her. It’s the first physical contact they’ve made since knowing each other. Schneider always respects Matilda’s boundaries when they have these secret sessions. She’s going out of her way to break that just to keep her from finishing that sentence.

Matilda doesn’t understand the look in her eyes, but her intuition tells her that the brunette’s looking out for her. On what, she doesn’t know.

“Non mettere in discussione la legge che hai scelto di seguire.” That infuriating language again. Didn’t she say it’s Italian? Matilda heard somewhere that Italy is where Sonetto was born. Perhaps learning a thing or two about it isn’t so bad… “Non ora.”

Back then, Matilda didn’t know what her words meant even after she looked into the translations. She just brushed it off and they continued their secret agreement. To the day of the parade, she remained clueless. To the eve of the planning outbreak, she chose to be ignorant.

Until the day Matilda couldn’t pretend not to understand those words. On the day before Schneider leaves on her first mission. As Timewarden. The hands that pass over the enhanced communication earrings grasp hers tightly. She couldn’t ignore it anymore, even if she still thinks walking this path is for the best. 

Even when she heard the inevitable news of an “accident” killing nearly everyone she knew was part of the plan. Even when the instructors denied her requests to visit her countless times. Even as Vertin and Schneider were silently “graduated” to top rank with positions deserving of praise. Matilda knew. She can choose to be ignorant, but she’s not a fool.

Those titles are just roles in the game they’re playing.

“Why…why are you still playing?” She doesn’t understand. Matilda’s a genius, truly talented, yet it’s hard to comprehend the actions of this woman.

“Because it’s life, paparedda .”

Life is a game everyone will play. So, they either keep playing or quit.

“...Schneider, I’m–”

Her lips feel the familiar skin of her fingertips. Only a tender, understanding smile greets her. Matilda could only express that moment similar to the day she lost her grandfather. The feeling of losing a kindred spirit. Yes, they’ve chosen different paths and so why was she still smiling? Why is she still encouraging her to stay on her chosen course when she could try and convince her otherwise?

“I will write to you. So, don’t miss me too much, yes?”

What?

“Oh, and I’ll be keeping your notes, if you don’t mind.”

…Idiot.

“Hmph! Like I’d need it! Matilda’s a genius that remembers everything by heart! If anything, someone like you could use it more than me! …Do whatever you want with it.”

Right, it didn’t matter if they chose differently. What matters is they’re still friends. Friends.

Matilda likes the sound of that.

———————————————

“Kumar… She broke the boundary between the Meditator’s Realm and reality through me. I’m afraid the falling star will arrive early.”

“What?!” Matilda tunes back into a damning revelation. So it really was a well crafted trap?! “There’s no way to stop her, then?”

They were already short on time before, but now is an absolute rush! Not only that, but Kaalaa Baunaa’s trip into the mirrored realm provided no clues to Kumar’s location. What’s important now is to figure out their next course of action. The main priority is the safety of the villagers. Think, Matilda, think!

“The estimated time of the Foundation backup is 6 am. It will be too late if the meteor really falls early.” Checking the starry sky, Matilda calculates the current time to be around 6pm. Twelve hours too far. They’ll need a contingency plan. “We need a shelter that can withstand the impact! Also, we have to gather all the villagers. 

And, and… Ah! In the field training, the instructor also told us to…”

“I’ll go with you!” Kanjira interjects, staggering over. Her wounds aren’t fully healed, but she’s well enough to stand and walk. “I’ll go with you. I know the way better! Besides, Sherjah is not back yet. If anything happens to she, I will not forgive myself I say those words.”

Matilda contemplates their options. It’s wise to bring someone that can navigate them through the streets efficiently if they want to avoid as much confrontation with the Manus as possible. Kanjira may be injured, but they have a vehicle she can operate without too much strain.

And how they’ll divide their forces…

“I’m staying.” Kaalaa Baunaa decides.

Well, that helps.

With a lookout decided, Matilda, Kanjira, and Shamane will go out and retrieve the remaining villagers. She estimates the span since Schneider left and roughly 8 minutes and 36 seconds has passed. They’re cutting it close, but they’ll be able to make it.

They get on the tuk tuk and Kanjira starts the engine. For a brief moment they lower the protective spell on the main entrance to allow the doors to open. Revving up the vehicle, they’re blazing through the streets dodging and swatting any Manus on the way.

Matilda grits her teeth and her stomach churns, but keeps her mind focused. Just a little while longer. Hold on a bit longer.

Matilda knows how to play their games too.

Chapter Text

Their vehicle swerves along the streets, collecting stray villagers they spot along the way. As the evening grows deep, it’s easy to attract enemies with their headlights. Matilda counts their blessings on the few fatalities they chanced upon so far and hopes for the remaining people to be alright. Her confidence sinks a little the closer they get to the center of the village near where the train station is, the denser the Manus populace becomes.

Kanjira maneuvers their ride to avoid as many obstacles as possible. It’s no longer viable to run enemies over if they want the vehicle to remain functional in their escape. When the central plaza of the market comes into view, a Manus follower towers over two figures with its hammer raised high.

“Ms. Sherjah!” Kanjira recognizes her immediately. “It’s Ms. Sherjah! She in trouble!”

Without waiting for the tuk tuk to stop, Shamane jumps off with great momentum. His foot collides with the hammer’s hilt and quickly disarms the enemy. He winds up his arm and throws a powerful punch directly on the Manus’ head, splitting the mask in half with arcanum sparks flying everywhere.

Matilda gets off their ride once it’s properly parked with Kanjira running towards the rescued lady regardless of her sprain. The blonde couldn’t help looking around, noticing a large amount of bodies, mostly Manus, strewn around the area. A great effort to defend happened here. Still, there’s no sight of Schneider.

“Ms. Sherjah!”

She focuses back on the situation, moving to aid the villagers into their getaway vehicle. It’s a good time to take advantage of this moment, where they still have a break from another wave. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but the tuk tuk will be able to hold everyone remaining. That should be all of them, right? How many more was left unaccounted for again?

Loud shouting has Matilda turn to the sight of Shamane manhandling an old man into the vehicle with ease. Whatever he’s screaming about isn’t important, they’re staying here too long!

“Alright.” Shamane dusts his hand free of the stubborn elderly and looks towards Sherjah. “I’m glad to see you’re fine, Ms. Sherjah. We are in dire need of a helping hand.”

“Ms. Sherjah, I remember you know this place well!” Kanjira says.

“Yes, I do.” The woman looks curiously between them and the slowly growing crowd of people in the tuk tuk.

“We need to transfer everyone here–” Shamane explains, thumb pointing towards the direction they came from. “Humans and arcanists–to a safe place.”

“And you’re the best person to do that!” The young dark haired girl wraps her hands around one of Sherjah’s arms, tugging it gently.

“I…” Despite her hesitation, she nods with great determination. A passion to help those in need. “Alright. I’ll do whatever I can, as long as it helps.”

“Hurry up, you people!” Matilda shouts, opening the door to urge them inside. Idle chatter can wait after they’ve rescued everyone and are safely back. “You can chat later!”

Getting back into the swing of things, they start blazing through the road, now with Sherjah’s guidance on where’s the best route to take and where’s likely the remaining survivors are hiding. The night grows deeper once they collect the last remaining villagers. But their problems finally caught up to them.

“Ah, why so many?!” Kanjira shifts gears, trying desperately to avoid the amassing hoard of Manus on the streets. “Tuk tuk cannot take running this many over!”

“Guess we made enough noise to let them know where the party’s at.” Hitting those that are close enough to the sides, Shamane flexes his fists. “Looks to me like I’ll have to part the waves for us huh, ladies?”

“You can’t! There’s too many!” Matilda warns, having been aiding as much as she can as well with her minimal strength against these brutes. “If you get off and can’t return, there’ll be even more trouble protecting the passengers!”

“We can’t protect if we stuck!” Drifting the vehicle to the side, Kanjira starts getting nervous. “How are we going to clear the way?!”

Damn it, where is that woman when they need her?!

“Sorry I’m late, the way here was crowded! Leave the clearing to me!”

Finally!

A heavy weight lands on the roof of the tuk tuk, jostling them briefly before gunshots ring out. Sparks flew along with the enemies in front of them being blasted back by small explosions caused by the shots. Matilda holds the railings tight, leaning out to look up at the brunette on top.

“About time!” Matilda shouts, directing her next instructions to the driver. “Hit the gas, Kanjira! She’ll clear the path for us!”

“I’m assuming she’s a friend of yours, Matilda?” Shamane steadies himself when the tuk tuk lurches, pushing it to the limits. “We sure could’ve used more hands earlier.”

“She likes to operate in secret.” Was all she could say about it. There’s more time to explain things once they’re reunited with Kaalaa Baunaa.

In a whirlwind of streaking headlights and gunshots, their densely packed tuk tuk roars into the night, making the perilous journey back to base without any more issues.

———————————————

“How did everything go?”

“It’s strange.” Sherjah ponders, “When we went there to begin evacuating people, most of them were already gone; the tourists and willing villagers. The only ones left were the more stubborn ones, which needed far more persuading. We managed to convince at least half to go before those…creatures appeared. 

They mentioned something about a Foundation member having already attempted to persuade them, but seeing as there’s only one wandering around them, the situation is of no threat that hiding in home can’t do. I didn’t know what they meant by that, but…”

The two women conversing turn to look out the window of the dilapidated room where a brunette is busy dealing with the rowdy elderly complaining in the courtyard. She personally volunteered to keep them at bay while everyone settles their next course of action.

“It’s destiny to have her working alongside us.” Kaalaa Baunaa smiles over at Matilda, curiosity in her eyes. “You never told us one of your coworkers was here as well.”

“It was unexpected for me as well.” Matilda laughs nervously, shifting her eyes around. She can’t explain it right now, they’re so close to escaping the situation. “She is of a specialized division and prefers to work in the shadows. Best accept her hidden help as it is.”

“I see.” The astronomer looks down at the astrolabe in her hand, getting back into business. She focuses on the map of the village splayed out and draws a circle around it. “I just observed it again. The figures are showing a grim picture. Luckily, I’ve worked out the specific range of damage.

As long as we can get out of this radius, there will be no casualties. As for other losses… they are beyond my ability to cover.”

“Emmm. The airship of the Foundation is on the way. At least our water supply is secured for now.” Matilda walks over and draws a straight line starting from their current position all the way out of the impact radius. “But the problem is, in such a distance…”

“The distance…” Kaalaa Baunaa scans the map, quickly calculating all possibilities. “Even if we follow the straight line, it is impossible for us, with the elders and the children, to get out of it within hours.”

“Err, why! We are getting so close to success.” Matilda scratches her head in thought. “If only we could go underground…”

“Underground? Wait!”

Shamane approaches the map and taps their location. Apparently his family has an emergency tunnel underneath their house for the exact purpose of evacuation. He’s only informed of its existence in hopes he’d take up the role as the villager’s protector in the future. If the estimations are correct, they’ll be able to move without alerting enemies and can transfer everyone outside the impact range with enough time before the star falls!

Only there’s one problem…

“The problem is there’s a gate to the tunnel. Now, just for the record, I’m only quoting my old man.” Shamane grins sheepishly, ““It is a gate which only opens to the leader who has earned his people’s trust.””

A dense pause spread across the room. Out of the silence, only the naive child is excited.

“Oh, “Open Sesame!” We going real treasure hunting this time.”

Matilda rubs her temple. She’s getting a migraine.

“What is this about treasure hunting? While I am up for adventures, we should finish our task first before having fun, no?”

Schneider walks into the room with a quick, curious glance around. She places herself right next to Matilda and smiles politely. It gave her chills. It’s been a while since she’s witnessed the brunette be professional in person.

“Forgive me for interrupting, but I cannot contain the people’s discontent any longer.” The brunette crosses her arms, radiating an odd authoritative aura Matilda hasn’t noticed before. It’s like she’s grown to be more proactive and willing to fit the leadership position as a Timewarden. She wonders what Schneider’s gone through to get that experience. “What is the current plan we’ve come upon?”

Getting quickly briefed of the information so far, Schneider tilts her head to the side in thought. Everyone waits with bated breath on her suggestion. Everyone there isn’t aware of Schneider's position in the Foundation except for Matilda, so they’re only listening to get the opinion of another well trained investigator. Matilda is paying attention because she knows the brunette can be quick witted and smart like her during dire situations. And in terms of rank, she’d be her superior that she must follow.

“You say there is an underground tunnel closed off by a gate, yes?” She looks towards the older man to confirm. “And it would only open to a leader that has the people’s trust?”

“It’s what my old man told me.” Shamane scratches his bear in embarrassment. “Not much of a leader type, sadly. And I get a feeling the loud cursing of those geezers outside answers the “people’s trust” part needed.”

“That is no matter.” She brushes the idea off in favor of more practical options. “If traditions fail, we can always destroy it.”

Matilda snaps her gaze at the brunette in bewilderment. Is she really suggesting such a thing?

“Afraid it won’t work. I tried to do it several times back then and it didn’t even leave a dent.”

Her head quickly shifts towards Shamane. Seriously?! What is wrong with these two?! Such a brutish way to deal with it! Though they’re running out of options… Matilda will overlook it for now!

“That’s then, this is now.” Schneider shrugs. “It won’t hurt checking it out either. This tunnel is the best option for evacuating the elderly and children.”

“I agree with Ms. Schneider.” Kaalaa Baunaa nods. “We don’t have much time left. Let’s exhaust all our options here.”

“It’s settled, yes?” The brunette smiles, walking towards the door leading to the courtyard. Matilda couldn’t help following her this time around. “Then I’ll let everyone know and follow. Get the entrance ready, will you?”

Matilda comes out of the courtyard and falls back a bit to quietly observe what Schneider will do. It’s not everyday she pays witness to the brunette’s behavior while on duty. As a fellow peer, it’s only natural to learn through visual experience. Rallying a crowd of unruly people should be the first skill an investigator is capable of doing.

“Alright.” Schneider sighs, appraising the situation. Most of the young are quietly keeping to themselves while their elders cause a fuss that even they can't quell. Matilda looks on in anticipation as the older woman raises a hand…and gestures towards her. “Would you like to give it a try?”

Huh?

“Pardon?” Matilda blinks. Her smile is sly and full of mischief. She can’t possibly be in the mood to mess around now?! “Are you being serious right now?!”

“Were you not complaining last time we saw each other about not getting enough field experience in your classes?” The way her mouth quirks into that infuriating smirk has Matilda’s brow twitching. “We got enough time for one attempt. After all, one is all you need, paparedda. With your outstanding skills and all.”

“Do not patronize me!” Huffing, she moves right next to Schneider and bumps her away with her hip. A little unlady-like, but to be rude to her will receive the same treatment. “Since you need my charm and charisma so much, allow me to show you the magnificence that is Matilda!”

She puffs up her chest and marches closer to the center of the courtyard where all the villagers convene. All the cursing is done by the elderly while the children sat back and watched, the older of the youths doing a measly attempt in covering the ears of the innocent. Matilda takes a breath and steels herself. It’s finally time to put her training into use! Any investigator can convince resistant civilians to cooperate, especially if it’s the talented Matilda!

“Everyone, may I have your attention please!”

All the children turned towards her, but the elders ignored her in favor of continuing their complaining. Irritable, yet expected. They are the group stubborn enough to not be evacuated in time after all.

“Excuse me! Sirs!” Matilda tries again, finally getting them to stop for a moment and pay attention to her. She brushes off their disdainful looks and gets to the point. “We have a plan! There is an underground tunnel beneath this house we can take that leads directly outside the village. If we could all start filing into the room where the entrance is, then–”

“Nonsense!” The same elder that Shamane had to manhandle into cooperating shouts. Matilda can tell he’s the worst among them and constantly instigates the rest of the elders. “I refuse to enter into this den of ill omen! We’re already damned by that Sharma boy bringing us here!”

“Sir, we are here to help.” Matilda approaches the issue placatingly. According to her training, it’s best to handle it with a level head and objective fact. “Backup will not be here until dawn and it’s far too dangerous to stay in the village. The safest option we have looked into is this underground tunnel. We’d appreciate your cooperation!”

“Underground tunnel? Did the Sharmas ever have one before?”

“They must be talking about the emergency path beneath the Sharma household. Isn’t that only opened by the leader?”

“They can’t expect that Sharma boy to open it. He’s no leader with how he’s left his family in ruin!”

“Everyone, please, let’s all calm down!”

Matilda’s voice is drowned by yet another round of shouting and protests from the elders. Looking around, the children didn’t try to stop them, likely used to the pattern of behavior by now. The sight irritates her. They’re really not helping at all!

“We are working on how to get the path open, but for now would you all please follow me inside!”

She’s greeted with more resistance and the chaotic energy causes sparks to charge in the air. The tension is high with less and less opportunities to defuse it. Matilda grits her teeth. Such stubborn old men!

“And you! You say you’re part of the Foundation?” Another elder points at her accusingly. “How do you expect to convince us about the situation when there’s only two of you here?!”

“The others are on their way and we’ve recruited the aid of people like Ms. Sherjah to relay the message–”

“So it was you who had her run around and causing a fuss? Has the Foundation stooped to needing human resources to do their work?! If the problem was this dire, then why send out children in the first place!”

Children?! What does age have anything to do with rescuing people?! Matilda’s face flushed bright red. She’s now seething at their ignorant claims and visceral remarks. They’re all clearly not talking sense, only out to antagonize her! Are they seriously doing this instead of willingly accepting help?!

“Please, if you just–”

“We will not listen to some child lacking in worldly experience!”

“Even if you are part of the Foundation, we will hear none of it!”

“They could have gotten someone more reliable!”

The rioting cries return full force, one even Matilda can’t stop with her shouts. It alerts the people inside, walking through the door with concerned looks on them. She takes deep breaths, but the tension has snapped and the crackling energy flows in the air with great dissonance. Matilda clenches her teeth and stamps her foot down in frustration. Her eyes sting with tears out of irritation. These…These ungrateful geezers! They don’t understand the wondrous capabilities of someone like Matilda! And they have the gall to speak as if age dictates the reliability and wisdom of others. Clearly their own old age gives no such thing!

Matilda breathes in shakily, stubborning wiping her face to avoid crying. A proper lady doesn’t easily buckle under the pressure of EM waves! Kaalaa Baunaa slowly walks over to her and tries to offer comfort, ready to speak up for her. It only brings Matilda more shame than anything.

She sniffles.

“SILENZIO!”

Like a mute spell cast around the courtyard, everyone freezes. Matilda immediately stood ramrod straight, tears and frustrations forgotten. Her body prickles with the familiar sensation of receiving a lecture from her grandfather after getting into trouble. It makes her feel sheepish and small. All the villagers seem to silently agree with her. Nobody talked, even Kaalaa Baunaa and Shamane appeared perplexed.

Their eyes look to the source of that commanding voice. Matilda shudders, a chill runs up her spine.

Schneider’s face has a deep set frown, her previous smile and mirth gone. It’s the first time Matilda’s ever seen her outwardly lose her carefree persona, even if it’s blatantly obvious that it’s forced at times. The aura she emits radiates a sense of dominance she didn’t think the brunette can muster with how often she expresses distaste toward the “stiff upper lips” as she calls them.

“We will hear everyone’s concerns about the Foundation’s choice of workers after we have guaranteed all yours safeties, yes?” Her voice pitched low, curt and to the point. Nobody made a move to speak up, not even the elders. “Or perhaps the gravity of this situation has not settled in yet?”

Like a reprimanded child, the old men that caused a fuss are fuming yet kept quiet. Even though she’s not in the wrong, Matilda still feels like she needs to lower her head like the rest. Is this what an actual Investigation Leader is like? To have such a strong conviction.

Schneider scans the crowd of villagers, none dared to make eye contact. Her expression returns to her playful smirk, but Matilda can see the sharp edge to it. “The Foundation’s main goal is to achieve peace. Our priority; safety of the innocent. We only ask for your cooperation if not for your own well being, then for your children and families. 

Prideful arcanists that you are, please consider your loved ones at this moment.”

After ascertaining that no more complaint will arise from the elders, the brunette gestures for the two women behind her to come closer.

“Ms. Sherjah, Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa, I would like to ask for your assistance in guiding everyone carefully to the entrance. I can count on you to still know the way, Mr. Shamane?”

“Well, it’s been years, but as long as the place hasn’t caved in then everything should still be where I last saw it.”

“Good. Let’s move, we have no more time to waste.”

Matilda falls back from the crowd to stay by the brunette’s side. Aside from that moment of initiative, Schneider looks uninterested in taking the lead on the evacuation mission like before. In fact, she looks sheepishly at Matilda; apologetic even.

“Forgive me, paparedda .” Her chest constricts uneasily. “It appears that I stole your spotlight. I know you’re perfectly capable of handling the situation, but I couldn’t help it. You know I’m not a fan of…stubborn people.”

She silently sighs in relief, relaxing without knowing what made her tense to begin with. Matilda puffs up her chest and harrumphs, turning her face away arrogantly. “If you were just going to do that, then why ask me to do it at all! Honestly, you are still as incorrigible as before!”

“In…” Schneider blinks slowly. Matilda knows that smile. It’s the blank smile she makes when she doesn’t understand a word. “Incorrigible, you say? Well…I wouldn’t say that… What makes you say that I fit that word?”

“...” She scoffs and shakes her head, unaware of her rising smile. This woman… “You’re so insufferable. Unruly , you are. Forget it, let’s go and catch up.”

———————————————

“Alright, that should do it.”

Matilda pats the child’s head after securing the bandages properly. With that, every villager should be properly treated for extra scrapes from the journey there. She gets up and pats the dust off herself, surveying her surroundings. They sought refuge in the cave entrance where the tunnel leads out from. Fortunately, they were able to successfully use the emergency passage with minor delays.

She’s reminded of the stunt in front of the gate, even now the children gather around the firepit to retell the story that happened mere hours ago with more grandeur. The sight makes her smile. To see the civilians safe and secure is a huge relief to Matilda, yet a lot is still on her mind. Like the whereabouts of Kumar and how to deal with the Manus. Although that’s out of her jurisdiction now as a Foundation assistant. Then again, everything that’s happened is beyond it. Only the foolish would turn a blind eye to such a crisis though and Matilda is no fool.

Matilda’s gaze starts unconsciously searching for a particular figure, a brief twinge of anxiety fills her when she doesn't immediately spot her. There, near the lip of the cave’s entrance, blending into the shadows. As always, she prefers to be bathed under the moonlit night and countless stars.

“Why are you out here? It’s so cold.” Her pride precedes her concern as she approaches and stands by her side. All she gets is a quiet nod of acknowledgement from the brunette. Pouting, Matilda leans against the rocky surface of the entrance, looking out towards the village far below the mountain.

To think the place will become a crater in just a couple hours… Many lives will be displaced thanks to the Manus again.

“Well done.”

“Hmm?” Matilda turns to her, unconsciously cringing. With all the tension and stress going on, she didn’t notice the state of the woman. Schneider’s covered in many scuffs and bruises;  previously bandaged and newly gained. Her hair is a wild mess like a carbuncle nest and her clothes are ripped, torn, and covered in dried blood; both hers and someone else’s. Is that a black eye forming? Goodness, is that why she’s avoiding being seen? The horrendous sight could scare any child. “Uhm, sorry. I didn’t notice your, ah, state. I think I have a little bit of health potion left…”

“Do not mind it, bedda . I will be fine.” Schneider chuckles, loosely trying to tame her unruly hair. “Besides, I’ve hit my limit in potion usage today. Any more and I’ll just feel sick, yes?”

Matilda grimaces, but drops the offer. Someone with special circumstance like Schneider, even her great talents in learning first aid should know not to over treat them. If she says she’s fine, then she’ll be fine. She’ll have to believe her word for it.

They slip into deep silence, distant sounds of conversation echo in the cave. She wrings her arms and picks at some dirt stains on her sleeves. Suddenly she doesn’t seem as confident about talking to Schneider as she was earlier that day. Maybe it’s sunk in now that there’s less pressing matters to attend to, but Matilda didn’t know what to say. Or how to breach the topic for the matter. And with others being able to hear…

“You’re thinking too much again. Are you perhaps wondering about her ? I know a thing or two if you’re curious~”

“You…!!” Matilda flushes bright red. She glares at that infuriating smile, all consideration out the window. Honestly, can’t she have more tact about the situation?! “I don’t know what you’re implying, but it has nothing to do with any of what you’re thinking! In fact, I was actually worrying over things like where the displaced villagers will go or about Kumar’s whereabouts!”

A half truth is still the truth! The woman should know it well.

“Is that so?” The smirk on the brunette’s face only made Matilda’s face heat up more. How dare she be so crass! Clapping her hands together, Schneider cheekily continues like she’s not purposely insinuating things at Matilda’s expense. “Well, we can at least solve one of those worries, yes? About Kumar’s whereabouts.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Matilda crosses her arms. “Even my divination did not perceive her location. Likely the shady work of the Manus. Only that can prevent my marvelous skills from getting a clear vision.”

“Yes, they never make it easy to have the upper hand.” Schneider scoffs, tilting her head to the side. “Then if we cannot solve it the arcanist way, how about we try it the other way.”

“The other–Are you talking about that human theory you spoke of last time?” Matilda remembers it with how similar it is to the lessons in logistics within the institution. “Your so-called Deductive Reasoning?”

“Well, it's all based on circumstantial evidence, but we have nothing to lose in entertaining it.” Schneider smiles, tapping a finger to her temple. “Shall we play then?”

Matilda sighs. Well, since they have time to spare waiting for backup, there's nothing else to be done. And she is technically on vacation…

“Very well. Matilda will humor you just this once.”

“ Grazie, bedda~ You are ever so generous. Now.” She lifts both hands, palms up in a familiar gesture. A game of questions and answers. “Let us collect what we know.”

“Well…” Matilda ponders on the facts she knows based on what she's told and folds one of Schneider's fingers on the left for each information. “We know that Kumar has done research about a celestial body with Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa, she is the cause of a celestial body from the Realm falling and about to destroy the village, she joined the Manus Vindictae, she invited Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa and Mr. Shamane back to the village, and… 

Her whereabouts are currently unknown.”

That's all five fingers on the left hand.

“We have a full house then. And at its core is…” Schneider balls her left hand into a fist, fingers curled into the center. “Our main question.”

“Where is Kumar.” Matilda nods.

“Let's tackle these bullets one by one.” Schneider motions her right hand, thumb raised up in emphasis. “The celestial body being researched. It seems to be an important study to Kumar, and by extension, Kaalaa Baunaa. But Kumar has a particular obsession with it. Why is that?”

“According to Mr. Shamane, Kumar had a difficult life being an arcanist with little to no talent in the arcane. Leading to her disownment.” Matilda ponders, tapping against Schneider's thumb. “Would it not instill in her the desire to prove her worth somehow? If she is as prideful as any child of a renowned arcanist family, she'd like to prove the doubters wrong by achieving greatness when others told her she amounts to nothing.”

“A possible motive.” She tilts her head and a twitch of a frown grazes her lips. “Then how does Kaalaa Baunaa fit into this study? If we entertain Kumar's prideful views, she'd rather be the only head researcher of such an exceptional project.”

Matilda never considered it. Her opinion of Kumar is based on personal accounts of someone too close like Kaalaa Baunaa or too distant like Shamane. From a neutral party, Kumar could be far more nefarious of a person and those involved are too blindsided by their biased notions of the person to think of her in any other light.

So, from an outsider looking in, why would Kumar let such a close personal project be co-led by someone else…

“The Meditator’s Realm!”

Matilda quickly curls up Schneider's right thumb and unfolds her left in exchange. The first barrier was broken.

“The research paper released about the document isn't the full version, leaving out a crucial detail about its data collection.” Matilda says, “I remember, the papers that alluded to Kumar's involvement with the Manus, it's written that there’s another star that can only be seen by using arcane skill to observe the celestial body through the Realm!”

“Isn't that against conduct for human astronomy research?” Schneider points out.

“But that could be why Kumar needed Kaalaa Baunaa!” She pokes her finger against the other’s nose. “What if the celestial body in the paper wasn't actually Kumar's goal, but–”

“The celestial body only seen within the Realm through arcane meditation…” Schneider's eyes gleam with a luster she could only describe as inspired. “Then our second question is easier to answer.”

Her right index finger is raised in emphasis, “Why would Kumar want the celestial body to fall? If we follow your train of thought that her true research is about this unseen star, then…”

“Without Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa’s help, Kumar would have no way to observe the star. After all, she's one without skill in the arcane.” Matilda folds the right index finger. “So the only option to ever prove its existence is to bring it into the physical realm. And doing so, it has no choice but to fall.”

“Very good.” Schneider lifts up her left index finger in turn. “Though that doesn't explain how Kumar has observed the star all this time and prepared for its fall.”

Matilda glares at her. The brunette's snickering proves she's playing up the ignorance for this silly game. Grimacing, she folds the woman's right middle finger a little more roughly than usual.

“The Manus, you fool.”

“Ah, yes, the Manus. How forgetful of me.” Schneider surrenders, unfurling her left middle finger. More of the core is exposing itself. They're closer to the truth somehow. “Let's say Kumar did get arcane assistance through the Manus. That would contradict one of our known facts.”

She lifts her right ring finger, Matilda's eyes widen.

“Kaalaa Baunaa and Shamane.”

“Si, bedda.” Schneider smirks, “They're invited here for a reason. Mr. Shamane’s invitation could be out of vindication, but we know Kumar has used Kaalaa Baunaa to bring the star's fall sooner. But what if that is not the case? What if she didn't invite her to make the star fall sooner, but to make it fall in general.

Let's entertain this assumption instead…she didn't actually ask for the Manus’ help for arcanist talent specifically.”

“If not that then–” Matilda stiffens, meeting the other's scarlet gaze that glows in intensity. She shudders. “Are you saying she's been observing the star with her own arcanum? But she's incapable of handling such strain!”

“Incapable, but not impossible.” Her expression turns grim and the smile on her lips becomes more like a sneer. “If she's obsessed enough, Kumar would throw away even her own life to do it. She's already shown to willingly risk the life of an entire village just to bring the star into our world.”

Matilda takes a sharp intake of air through grit teeth. If any lessons in arcane skill or even her grandfather's teachings told her anything, it's that using arcanum beyond one's limits is detrimental to the health of the caster. Mentally and physically. She stares down at the hands splayed before her, the game has gotten more complicated and absurd. Yet it also makes sense.

She folds the right ring finger and unfurls the left.

“Kumar lured Kaalaa Baunaa with full intent to use her more stable arcane skill as a path to bridge the realms. The threat of the star falling is a bluff.”

“We can't be so sure if it would've still been possible with only Kumar's persistence.” Schneider tilts her head, “But no obsessive person with a death wish is without a contingency plan. The safest bet is this. And so we're on to the final question…”

Her whereabouts.

“This game is pointless.” Matilda scoffs, “We answered everything, but none of it gives us any clue to where she could be.”

“Now we shouldn't be hasty, paparedda . Let's review the new circumstantial evidence we got by answering these questions.” Schneider lists down the items, pointing to the unfurled fingers with her right pinky. “Kumar discovers and becomes obsessed with this celestial body only observed through a meditative technique that requires arcanum to perform out of desire to prove others wrong of her incompetence. To this end, she recruits the assistance of Kaalaa Baunaa to observe it and when that option has become unavailable, she resorts to doing it herself with possible minor help from the Manus. 

The goal? To bring the star into our reality as she can't observe it forever with her limited skills. For that, she'll need someone capable of entering the realm to act as a bridge. This leads to her inviting Kaalaa Baunaa as she's the only one other than her that knows the way to observe the Realm and with more efficiency. Let's toss Mr. Shamane in as an act of spite from a family member.

With all this information; why the village?”

“What do you mean?” Matilda blinks.

“What makes this village the prime place for Kumar to drop the star?” Her eyebrows furrow. “If she wants to prove the doubters wrong, shouldn't the scholars be involved as well? Who does she have left to prove if they're all wasted by the star's fall?”

“Ugh, like she has anyone else left to prove…” Matilda pauses. “...Unless she doesn't want to prove anything.”

“She started this to prove them wrong.” Schneider's eyes narrowed. “But that doesn't mean it'll stay that way. An obsession is fickle; you'll easily lose sight of the initial goal in favor of a different drive.”

They quickly turn to each other in revelation.

““To see the star in person!””

Of course. Matilda never thought of her motives changing over time. If it was as simple as destroying the community that shunned her, it's difficult to measure where she'd be, but if she personally wants to see the star as it falls, it'll limit her distance. Then…

“My divination.” Matilda realizes, “It was muddled and intercepted by the arrival of the Manus, but I was sure of it. Kumar is already in the village. But how? Someone would've spotted her running around. And accordingly to Kaalaa Baunaa, a colleague saw her leave with the Manus.”

“Leave with the Manus or leave the village with the Manus?”

“As if I would know!” She sighs in exasperation. “Anyone would assume they'd leave the village.”

“Then let's assume otherwise.” Schneider lifts her hands up, left hand fully splayed and right now a fist. “Kumar is still in the village. Where else in the village have we not considered looking?”

Matilda's mind starts racing. They've searched everywhere! Scoured every corner when they rescued the villagers and there was no sign of Kumar. There couldn't possibly…

“This tunnel runs straight past the village towards the outside. It's all built underground as some kind of emergency escape route.”

“...!!!”

The game has ended and they've won. Mimicking Schneider's motion, her expression speaks that she’s come to the same conclusion as her. With a wide smile, Matilda balls her right hand and taps her fist against her left palm. The symbol of unlocking the core’s secrets.

An answer.

“Underground!”

“Matilda?”

Both girls turn around to Kaalaa Baunaa at the entrance of the cave, a sense of urgency in her movement. Matilda grows worried and hastily walks over. She must inform her of the possibility they’ve thought about!

“Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa, we have thought of a place Kumar could be hiding!” She speaks quickly and to the point. “The divination wasn’t wrong. She’s in the village, but underground! Like how there’s an underground tunnel underneath the Sharma house, there must be a secret underground bunker somewhere!”

Kaalaa Baunaa looks momentarily surprised before turning into a smile. Matilda puffs up her chest, knowing that expression to be of admiration. Of course a great genius like her can solve the mystery! With the help of that woman. She is not one to take all the credit.

“Yes, Shamane and I have come to the same conclusion. I might even know where to look specifically.” The astronomer nods, careful with her next words so as not to be heard by the others in the cave. “Matilda, what I’m about to do is risky; even reckless. I need your talent in divination in order for this to work. If all goes well, then we’ll be able to stop the star from falling entirely. Will you do it?”

“But of course, Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa!” Matilda nods, a determination growing inside her. If there’s a way to stop the village’s destruction entirely, then she’ll do whatever she can. She trusts the older arcanist’s ability just as she respects Matilda’s. “You can count on me!”

“Thank you.” Her smile is the most tender and sincere she’s witnessed since they met. Matilda feels a strong kinship has formed after this whole ordeal between them. With everyone. “I’ll be teaching you the proper technique to observe the star through the Meditator’s Realm and I would like you to gather all the arcanists you can to join. With your outstanding capabilities, I know you’ll guide them safely through and this’ll be our fighting chance.

Now, here’s how it goes…”

———————————————

“Yes, that’s it! Exactly like that. Now focus your minds…”

The inner circle of arcanists surrounds Matilda as they place their hands on her crystal ball while an outer circle of humans watch on with awe and fascination. From the lip of the cave, Schneider leans heavily against its rocky surface. She’s tired, but content. Truly her peer is an outstanding genius above all else. She sighs quietly.

How the stars aligned for Schneider to meet her friend again in less suffocating terms; village ending star fall notwithstanding. Better the stress of work than the pressure of the government eyes and ears knowing their intimate conversations. No amount of professional sounding screened letters could express Schneider’s remorse over the effects of her disappearance to those she loves. Her thoughts drifted to her Lord not for the first time in the long day.

Ah, her muscles are sore.

“Are you not going to join them?”

Schneider gives a brief glance at Sherjah approaching her before returning focus back to the group. Even from her position near the entrance, she can feel the crackling of arcane energy splitting and fractaling something deeply beyond her base comprehension, prickling her skin and charging her veins. Or maybe it’s just the insistent signs that they’re running out of time.

The Storm is coming too soon.

“I’ve overspent my use in that division, Ms. Sherjah.” Schneider smiles lightly, rubbing her arm to hide the rising goosebumps. It makes her feel antsy. “Our reliable and ever magnificent Lady Matilda has it covered though. There is no one more qualified for this task than her. 

And with the help of everyone on both sides, we’re sure to reach peace.”

“Ah, your words sound like they mean something else entirely.” She didn’t respond to the other’s good natured attempt at humor. The notion on whether Sherjah understood will be left in secret. “I would like to thank you and everyone for saving us. If Ms. Kaalaa Baunaa hadn’t insisted on stopping this and that you and Matilda weren’t here to help when you did, we’d be…”

“We, of the Foundation, only are doing what our role asks of us.” Finally looking at her, Schneider gives a proper smile. “It’s people like you, Ms. Sherjah, who made it possible. Kind hearted souls that choose to help out of their own will rather than out of duty is what will truly bring us closer to a peaceful life. Humans and arcanists alike.”

“Ah.” Sherjah blinks, caught off guard with such heavy handed sincerity that it makes her look away after a while. The brunette humors her by watching the group in a circle make a ruckus. They look to be making a breakthrough. Their fight is almost over. And Schneider’s ‘vacation’ will end as well.

“...Ms. Sherjah, I’d like to bother you with a favor if you do not mind.” She felt those eyes refocus on her, but she didn’t have the heart to meet it. What she’s asking is far too much for someone she only met that day, but if Schneider plays the game of assumptions again, then… “When dawn comes, the Foundation’s emergency team will be here to relocate everyone; do not mention my involvement in this case. I would like you to claim the rights of aiding in the evacuation instead.”

“What?” Sherjah gasps. “No, no, I can’t just take the credit for it. Surely you don’t truly mean–”

“My position is special and complicated within the Foundation at the moment. That, I will be up front with you, Ms. Sherjah.” Schneider sighs, gauging the crowd’s attention solely on the task before facing the woman one more time with a seriousness that has her stiffening at attention. “I am asking this of you not only out of selfishness, but to ensure the safety of others. When the time comes, please, do not mention me. Whether or not I was here wouldn’t have changed your own selfless actions and initiative to evacuate others despite knowing the risk to your life.”

She rummages in her pocket, cringing at the small stack of cards soaked in dried blood. She offers Sherjah the one with the least amount of smears. A calling card without words. Only a symbol of the Foundation’s specialized division underneath Madam Z’s jurisdiction.

“They will ask if you’re interested in joining the Foundation.” Sherjah’s gaze snaps back up to her in bewilderment. “If you ever decide to accept their offer, please refer that card to someone called Madam Z, she will help make arrangements so everything will go smoother.”

“Thank you, but…” She hesitates, eyeing the card and back at Schneider, gauging her intention. “I don’t understand what this is for.”

Schneider slowly shifts her attention to the crowd. Sherjah follows where her gaze moves and immediately understands. Kanjira cheers along with everyone, throwing herself at Matilda who cries indignantly at her smothering. Anyone keeping their eyes and ears open about the Foundation has at least heard one thing or another about it. Whether they believe those rumors or not is up to them.

“I respect your love for those children without a home.” She watches fondly as Matilda pushes Kanjira so she can sit back up, but allows her to cling onto her still. “I understand that desire to protect them, show them that peace between humans and arcanists is still possible. And I, too, will do what I can to support that dream. Rest assured there are others like you among the rubble.”

“...I did not see you that day.” Sherjah states resolutely, a passion in her tone. “And none of the others have either. The elders wouldn’t dare speak of their act of bad mouthing the government.”

“Hah, indeed.”

With that, the dawn breaks and the feather flutters off elsewhere.

———————————————

‘Please let me be promoted to the Investigation Division.’

Matilda stares longingly at the vast ocean of stars, feeling the deep celestial power flow among the streaks of the meteor shower. Let her dream and wish come true. Oh, please…

It’s been a harrowing 36 or so hours since Matilda’s trip leading to this journey. The plan to stop the star’s fall was successful and all the villagers are taken to the main city of Chandigarh for refuge while the Foundation takes care of the Manus. Only a few casualties were reported. She couldn’t help glance at Kaalaa Baunaa’s somber figure laying on the grassy plains. Her eyes look skyward, yet her focus is on the cold metal shell that glistens just like the stars.

Matilda keeps her distance.

While watching Kanjira and Shamane discuss myths about the meteor shower known by the village, the wind carries the familiar scent of orange blossoms. Matilda didn’t hesitate to slip away uphill where she knows is a good spot to blend into the night. The showering lights illuminate her solitary form. At least she cleaned and patched herself up.

“You are right. The meteor shower is gorgeous when you see it yourself.” Schneider muses, reaching a hand out as if she can touch the glittering lines. “Are you glad? We got to watch it together like you said back then.”

Matilda frowns, but says nothing. She got close and purposefully leaned all her weight against the woman. The brunette staggers, but catches herself. Her bandaged hand gently pets Matilda’s head in a silent apology. She could only close her eyes, momentarily letting the moment pass. Matilda’s smart. She understands many things, but chose to be ignorant in order to ensure her path towards her dream will be clear with no issues. And she will not stray from her path.

If only it didn’t have to hurt her friends.

“Would you like to know what I wish for?”

She scoffs, “That would defeat the point of making the wish.”

“I guess.” Schneider hums, poking her cheek with a finger. “But I’m not one for waiting for wishes to come true. Then, how about I only tell a part of it?”

“Fine. Say it, then.”

“I wish for everyone’s happiness.”

She clenches her fists. Matilda hides her face against Schneider’s hair, the smell of citrus overwhelming. She really has grown taller than her now. But she still felt so small.

Matilda’s still so small. Around this woman, that’s okay.

“When will your vacation end, paparedda ?” The conversation shifts, but not to a lighter subject from what Schneider’s tone gives off. From one heavy topic to another, just less personal.

“In a few days.” Matilda moves away, keeping a respectable distance from each other. Their time to relax has ended. Returning to business as usual. “Why? Will you be reinstated to a public standing again?”

“In time, but that’s not the reason.” Her arms wrap around herself, a light tremor in her body as if the evening breeze sunk deep in her bones. Schneider’s gaze remains fixed at the waning meteor shower, yearning to capture every moment. Ingrain every memory. “It would give me peace of mind if you’d return a day sooner if possible. Even encourage all your new friends to seek shelter. No doubt they’ll be taken into the main headquarters for evaluation first…”

Matilda’s eyes narrow, deciphering her words. A chill runs up her spin and suddenly the quiet eve is filled with undertones of dread. She may not have interacted with her for a whole year, but there’s only a few reasons why Schneider would request anything openly and that’s…

“Is…Is the Storm…”

“The report has been made and ready to be sent to My Lord for screening.” Schneider lets out a deep sigh, “I contacted her ahead of time to confirm on her end. My senses…they are faint, but it’s there. Its ‘Eye’ is far from here, but we cannot predict how wide its berth will be.”

So the countdown has started.

“We have a week, then.”

“It should be enough time. In your capable hands, all will be well prepared.” Her smirk does nothing to lighten the mood, but it still warms something in Matilda’s wary heart. “You are the excellent and magnificent Lady Matilda Bouanich, after all.”

“Do not patronize me!” Matilda huffs, her face flush red and the smile gives away her real feelings. Honestly, out of all the praises she ever gets from others, it’s Schneider’s that makes it sound so embarrassing with how sincere it is. “Of course everything will be perfect under my care! Now rid those thoughts from your mind. We must seize this moment! There’s still a bit of the meteor show left, meaning I can still meditate. Come, you will assist me in finding a spot and we will meditate together! I will hear no complaints!”

“As you wish.” Schneider laughs good naturedly, allowing Matilda to drag her by the arm to wander off in search of a place. The night is still young and the sky is clear! Matilda will take this as a sign to grab this opportunity as much as she can.

For a while longer, she’ll let herself be more free.

———————————————

A light downpour soaks the dreary streets of London, herds of dark umbrella tops flow through the streets like a river. Light and gentle, a sparkling feather flies unhindered by the raindrops. Small pearl beads spiral around it like a shield, guiding it safely into an awaiting hand. It dissolves in crimson and silver glitter, in its place, an envelope forms. Sealed with a wax image of a cricket atop an orange blossom branch. Judging by the weight, it carries more than just mere paper.

The setting is not ideal to open something so delicate and precious. So the receiver sought refuge at a nearby cafe, taking a seat at a secluded table in the corner before opening the envelope. The contents are promptly taken out one by one with great care, taking time to appraise each item individually.

Inside is the standard stack of documents reporting of the oncoming Storm predicted to occur soon and must be confirmed. That’s set to the side for later and the main focus is on the rest of the objects; a blank piece of paper, a postcard, and a small plastic bag containing four picrasma candies sealed with a ribbon.

The candy has a unique design to it compared to their usual lustrous crystal and stars. These ones are sculpted in the shape of planets, all finely layered in a glossy outer coating that gives it a shine. How charming. Taking the blank note, a secret trick needs to be performed to have access to its content. After all, it’s specialized arcane paper meant to reveal its message with a little bit of arcanum. Finally, the letter can be read.

‘My Lord,

May this letter find you well. Never a day has gone by that you are not within my thoughts. Of course, I hope you also keep me in yours once in a while. Nevertheless, I’m taking my “punishment” with dignity. But the Gods have a funny way with rewards, My Lord.

I got to see a good friend again. We finally saw the meteor shower together.

She’s no doubt upset, but I will repent for my carelessness. We sadly could not enjoy the reunion to the fullest as more pressing matters happened. When the dust settled, I allowed myself a bit more leisure (those above shall not know) and found something you might enjoy.

Disclosed along with this letter will be some uniquely made picrasma candies sold at a shop in Chandigarh. They have the whole solar system and I couldn’t help but save the other half for myself (bedda ate Saturn). Four planets for each day I’m away. Savor it, My Lord. And I’ll be back soon.

I can’t wait to tell you the adventures I’ve had personally. To be by your side again.

Forever Yours, Schneider.’

Vertin moves the note close, inhaling the faint trace of orange scent on it. They set it down on the table with their fingers lovingly brushing over her signature. Each day, huh. A twinge in their chest has them fiddling with the pack of candy’s decorative ribbon and one is popped into their mouth in no time.

The taste of venus is sweet and tender.

They rest their cheek on the palm of their hand and will themself to stop caressing the letter to avoid smudging the delicate writing. Picking up the postcard, Vertin smiles at the photo. Under the starry night sky, Matilda and Schneider lean against each other while sitting on a makeshift divination mat, traces of used materials and burnt incense in bowls surround the blonde’s crystal ball. The faint illumination from the orb highlights their joyous grins. The words on the postcard alongside the two’s signatures are simple:

‘A glimpse into a bright future.’

“Take care.” Vertin presses their lips against the brunette’s image. Full of deep hidden affection. “I will see you again.”