Dimension Terra is known as a dimension where there is high level of sophistication in several branches of magic, including some forms which the Bureau are unfamiliar with and are still studying. Yet, magic in itself is largely unknown to the general population of the dimension, save for the minority magic practitioners. This compounded with the fact that the technological advancements necessary for proper magical control and support are severely lacking make Terra one of the most unpredictable dimensions indirectly under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. According to past records, the magic practitioners of Terra had been known to create several magical artifacts that had later been designated as Class A Logias. Sentient magical dolls, a deck of magical cards which control specific types of magic and a wish-granting “Holy Grail” are just some of those which the Bureau knew of and are keeping track of. It is believed that more could have been in existence without the knowledge of the Bureau. All local operatives are advised to keep an eye out for any possible signs of Logia activities in the region and to report to their direct superiors immediately on confirmation.
Opening of TSAB's classified folder on Terran occurrences
After an amount of hesitation, he finally knocked on the door of Professor Dante. He could already smell the faint scent of lilies wafting from behind the door.
“Come in.”
The voice was soft but firm. Despite her old age, the Professor of Element Transmutation (or more popularly known as alchemy) remained surprisingly virile and was still able to command much respect within the academy with her field of knowledge.
Gripping the knob, he looked around to make sure no one was around the corridor before he entered, then shutting the door quickly. The smell of lilies was even stronger inside the room, overwhelming any other possible smells that could have been around. Even if something died, one would still only smell the lilies.
The Professor turned from the device she was looking at, her wrinkled eyes widening at the student who just entered the office. Her dark witching robes swept behind her in contrast to the mass amount of deathly white lilies growing in pots big and small around the room. A smile of gladness crept onto her angular face.
“Gabriel, welcome back. Are you safe?”
The voice, kindly, almost grandmotherly but full of anticipation.
Gabriel, the student in question nodded as he reached within his robes and took a small box out. With a small wand in his hand, he traced the sealing symbols on the box carefully. Once completed, the box opened with a soft click, revealing its contents to the Professor.
The Professor took the silver bracelet out from the box and studied it with interest, rubbing its smooth surface in her coarse fingers, sensing the magical potential within.
“Good job. Good job.” she murmured, then she opened a drawer in the desk, placing the bracelet inside, alongside all the other assorted magical devices already within, “I think we would almost have enough.”
“How is she?” she asked without looking back, returning her attention to the device. The device was in fact a crude but accurate miniature of the city, with every single building and street represented. Little orbs of light, like fireflies floated around the three dimensional map, inside buildings or on the streets.
“She's fine...” the blond-haired wizard trainee replied, his facial features frowning in recollection and worry.
He needed to hurry. Just because she looked fine did not meant she actually was. Gabriel could sense that most of the time, she was hiding the pain from him. The quickly disappearing painkillers provided by the doctors also hinted that to him.
“Where will my next target be?”
“No hurry, no hurry...” the Professor soothed, gazing calmly at the map with satisfaction, “Don't you have class to go to now? I cannot hold my student back from classes, can I?”
“You know, I already knew most of the spells they are teaching now,” Gabriel protested. He wanted to hurry, to get the stone created. “You taught me most of them yourself.”
The Professor chuckled, “Did I tell you that you reminded me of someone I once knew in the past? So talented and quick to learn.”
“At least once a day.” came the quick reply.
“And just as impatient too,” the Professor continued, “Go along. Come back after class. It will be where it will be”
With that, she shooed him out of the room, closing the door and the saturated scent of lilies from Gabriel. With a sigh of frustration, he trudged his way down the long, imposing corridor the school insisted on having, for his first lesson of the day. Advanced magical charms... perhaps.
Most of the time, he would just sleep through the lesson, partly because he already knew more advanced forms of it, mainly because of his lack of sleep from the previous night's nocturnal activities. After the classes end, he would go down to the Professor for the next location and then down to the hospital to visit her. It should soon be time for her to return from that depressing place.
Unlike the rest of the students who resided in the boarding facilities provided by the school, Gabriel was allowed to go home after school ended everyday, due to his more unique family situation. Unfortunately, that also meant that he needed to wake early to reach the academy on time. Even with magical aids, traveling across the country still took time. Yawning loudly without the care of the annoyed stares around him, Gabriel made his way reluctantly down to Room 64 of Mediana Magical Academy.
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The landing by the plane was just as uncomfortable as when it took off. The queasy feeling combined with the ears popping made it truly unpleasant. Yet on the whole, the plane ride felt worth it, Fate had never managed to admire the view of the sky from truly above despite her experience with magically-aided flight before.
Having past through the customs with the rest of her team, she was faced with the throning crowd of the airport, tourists, locals, employees moving around in a vibrant, moving mass. Though Graham had chosen to stay in his homeland after leaving the bureau, he had still maintained links with Admiral Lindy as her father-in-law. He had volunteered his home as their headquarters for this mission.
In a way, that would make him her grandfather... not. It was not official, Fate reminded herself mentally as she looked towards her mother-hopeful, Admiral Lindy. According to her, his twin familiars, Lizaria and Liselotte had promised to welcome them at the airport and lead them to the prepared headquarters. Fate looked around the premises, her eyes searching for the pair. Though, they had not met since the end of the Tome of Darkness episode, they still kept in touched through video recording and letters with each other, a fond practice dated back from the period of time she was away from Terra and Nanoha.
“Feei-too-chaan! Nanoha-chan!” It sounded familiar but definitely not those of the twin familiars they were expecting.
Since they were like the children of Graham and Admiral Lindy was his daughter-in-law, if she agreed to the adoption scheme, won't that make them her aunts-in-law? Fate found herself faced with the prospect of an infinite expansion of her family with just a single signature, not that it was un-welcomed, but rather it felt too sudden and too easy for one who had committed so much wrong in the past...
“Feei-too-chaan! Nanoha-chan!” The familiar voice sounded off again with a larger degree of annoyance, followed by approaching footsteps.
“Fate-chan...” Fate felt a tug on her sleeves to see a surprised Nanoha pointing towards where the shouts were coming from. She looked towards the direction.
Stunned silence reigned for a moment, interrupted only by running steps and squeaking wheels.
“Uhm, Fate? Aren't they your...” Chrono leaned forward and asked softly into her ears.
Fate nodded.
Before them was Arisa, beaming and smirking in her full glory with her hands to her hips, her luggage behind her, despite the wheels, still worn out from all the merciless dragging along the floor. Suzuka, usually the more athletic one followed closely behind, her dark hair now tied into a ponytail trailing behind.
“Arisa-chan... Suzuka-chan...” Nanoha said in awe, uncertainty could be detected from her voice. The same could be said for Fate. After all, who would expect friends who would follow them across the globe for the holidays. Fate could not decide if she should be very grateful to have such determined friends by her side, or she should become angry instead, an emotion that was so unfamiliar to her.
Admiral Lindy broke the stalemate between the gang of four. Tidying her shawl, she smiled so warmly and gently towards the 'intruders'. There was an air of resigned amusement in her tone as she knelt slightly to their height level and spoke.
“Hello, Arisa-chan. Suzuka-chan. I have heard so much about the both of you. Welcome to England.”
The results were instantaneous. Arisa's satisfied look of victory disappeared as she quickly dusted herself and curtsy, “Good day, ma'am. My name is Arisa Bannings, friend of Nanoha-chan and Fate-chan... uhmm.” She seemed abnormally flustered and at a lost of words.
Suzuka followed behind with her own curtsy, “My name is Tsukimura Suzuka. Pleased to meet you for the first time...”
With a gentle laugh, Admiral Lindy stood up and bowed in return. “Lindy will do,” she said to Arisa, “Please do feel welcome while we wait for our hosts.”
That was when her cellphone rang its melodious tunes of Nana Mizuki's songs. She took the phone out and frowned slightly on looking at the caller's name. “Please pardon me,” she said apologetically as she walked aside to answer the call.
“Wow,” Arisa whispered in awe to Fate, “Lindy-san is your admiral? She's really beautiful and friendly and kind of cool too...”
For a while, Fate felt pride swelling in her. Of course, Admiral Lindy was all that and more. Fate looked towards Admiral Lindy with admiration and pride. She was the perfect woman to her. Strong, beautiful, kind, gentle and more. She was really glad to have met such a kind soul. Someday, she hope to be like her. To have the chance to live with her had been a blessing on her life. Then there was the adoption to become her daughter...
It had to be too good to be true. Fate had always thought Precia to be her mother, even after everything, Precia, even when she told her in her face that she did not and never would love her, was still Fate's mother.
Even now.
She remembered a kind Precia once. A strong, beautiful, kind, gentle Precia. Those memories that have been inserted in her during her creation belonged to her origins, Alicia. The true daughter of Precia Testarossa. Yet, they felt real, were real but they did not rightfully belong to her-
Admiral Lindy, in a way, reminded her of the old Precia in her memories. It was a chance to have a real family again. Just like that dream she had back then while trapped in the Tome of Darkness but it was still too good to be true. Did she deserve such happiness?
Reality jolted her back. It was too good to be true. There was also the other matter at hand, despite the happy reunion between all the friends. Arisa and Suzuka had already joined their group as though they had always been part of it. Suzuka chatting cheerfully with Amy and Nanoha while Arisa looking around and observing everyone with evident interest.
“Arisa-chan... why are you here?”
“Because you two are here,” came the thoughtless reply, the replier peering curiously at Arf's behind, causing much annoyance and discomfort to the familiar.
“But this is not Japan and we are on a...” Fate lowered her voice, conscious that she was in a public place, “mission. It could be dangerous for you and Suzuka-chan...”
Arisa stopped her observation and turned towards Fate, there was a look of confidence and expectancy on her, “We're friends, right? I am sure that between those missions, there will be time we can spend together, enjoy ourselves for the holiday.”
“We won't get in your way,” Suzuka added, having overheard the conversation. She grabbed Fate's hand and looked directly into her eyes with a look of pure sincerity and hope.
“We promise,” she added with a quick stern glance towards Arisa.
“Yes, ma'am,.” Arisa answered somewhat half-heartedly before launching into another wave of conversation with Nanoha.
There was nothing that she can do about that girl, Fate shook her head and smiled silently in resignation. Once she decided on something, there was no way she would give up. In a way, that was why they were friends; the impulsive girl never gave up on their friendship no matter what.
At that point, Admiral Lindy finished her conversation with the caller on the cellphone and rejoined the group. A worried frown clouded her beautiful facial features as she clapped her hands to gather their attention.
“Change of plans, we are heading to the local hospital,” she announced, “Graham will be meeting us there instead.”
“Question, Lindy-san,” Nanoha raised her hand, “Why?”
A look of anxiety washed across her face while she bit her lower lips. Then Admiral Lindy answered.
“Because Graham have been attacked by our target.”
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Gabriel walked out of the depressing building with his hands tucked in his pockets. He hated the place. The chemical smell. The white walls. Those thoughtfully polite staff. Most of all, he hated what that place symbolized.
And that she had been living there for the past few weeks. At least it was almost time for her return.
They had a good talk just now. Talk about everyday things, his studies and stuffs like that. He was not really paying attention; his attention was drawn towards the new bottle of painkillers beside the bed.
He needed to hurry. He had been helpless in the past but at least, now, he had something to do. A wild desperate hope, but hope nevertheless. It was better than doing nothing and letting fate take its course.
Gabriel felt for the small piece of paper that the Professor had given him inside his pocket. His target for the night had been written on it. It was that place again, the house he had accidentally destroyed. Perhaps the Professor expected him to search the grounds to find anything of value that might be left behind. At least it should be an easy job this time; there might not even be fighting this time.
Pulling his cap down, the mage strode past the group of foreigners entering the building and made his way back to the apartment. He had to prepare himself for tonight's target, just in case. It was only a matter of hours before night fall.
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Admiral Lindy spoke English most fluently.
Even more fluently than herself, Arisa grudgingly admitted. Having lived in Japan for the last few years, her own English had became rustier than she would like to admit.
After hearing Lindy's request for directions, the nurse thoughtfully and politely directed their group towards where Graham was warded. It was one of those more expensive wards with a single bed and window overlooking the streets.
There was some scrapping sound inside the room when Lindy knocked on the door. Slowly and cautiously, the door opened by a fraction, someone peeking out with narrowed eyes suspiciously at the newly arrived visitors.
“It's us,” Lindy said gently.
The eyes widened in acknowledgment and then the door swung open. The stance of the one behind the door visibly slackening. “Oh,” the lady replied and released a sigh of relief, “It has been a while.” Cat ears emerged on her head and flopped tiredly down as she let her guard down. She was the one of the two cat familiars this Graham had. Riselotte... or was it Rizaria?
The old man, Graham was seated on his bed, closing the book he was reading while removing his reading glasses. His hair was whiter now compared to those photos Arisa saw in Fate's album. There were more wrinkles too. With a kindly smile, he welcomed the solemn group in. Nanoha and Fate went directly to his side, asking about his well-being with worry in their voices.
When all had entered, there was a noise of landing from behind, followed by struggling protests from Chrono. The other half of the twin familiars had ambushed Chrono, hugging him tightly and teasing him about his growth spurts.
“Father, are you badly injured?” Lindy asked in concern, going towards the bed and grasping Graham's hand. Graham shook his head slowly, adjusting his blue wrist tag and looking at the scene around him. Chrono getting pestered and smothered by his enthusiastic past tutors while the rest laughed merrily at Chrono's discomfort.
“Yagami. She did not come,” he stated with disappointment.
“No, Father. It was not about the past,” Lindy consoled the guilt-ridden man, “She just happen to have other commitments.”
Graham smiled sadly in understanding before he started to tell his tale to the assembled group. He was attacked at night by a young magic user. He was swiftly knocked out before he was rescued by his familiars. When he came to, the house was leveled but his device was still with him.
There were looks of concern from the girls as they gathered around his bedside. Their target was not an easy one, Graham warned. He was stronger than expected and the magic he wielded was of a local variety.
“The main issue now is that the cottage was destroyed, so you would have to find another place to set up your base of operations,” Graham concluded.
The group was silent, each one deep in thought. Save for Arisa and Suzuka since they were not exactly part of the mission. Considering that he was speaking in terms of the Bureau, Arisa could not help but feel somewhat left out. She looked around earnestly at the rest. Lindy had her arms folded across her chest, silently contemplating. Nanoha's brows were furrowed cutely as she rested her head on Fate's shoulders, a move that sparked a slight stab of jealously in Arisa.
She knew the current issue was about lodging and Arisa had just the solution at the back of her mind. It could be how she as a civilian could help. It could even be fun. With a cough, she stood up to get the attention of the rest in the room. “No worries,” she proclaimed grandly, “I know a place where you can use.”
“After all, I'm English,” she added as an afterthought. With a pause of anticipation, she announced,
“I, Arisa Bannings am willing to lend you my family's summer apartment for this period!”
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Arisa did not take Admiral Lindy's rejection kindly. She frowned, she stomped, then she left the ward with a slam, leaving behind a stunned silence. Suzuka quickly got out of her seat and bow to the rest in apology.
“Don't worry,” she apologized sheepishly, “I'll go with that hot-headed girl... I'm sure she would calm down soon.” Then, grabbing their luggages, she exited the room after Arisa. Fate could help her cries of “Arisa! Wait!” drifting into the room, getting softer along with the pattering of running feet.
“Is she always so hot-tempered?”
“Arisa has always been somewhat stubborn but she is a nice girl. I'm sure Suzuka would be able to calm her down...” Nanoha replied, sporting a worried, concerned look on her face. She was as observant as usual, reading the feelings of her friends as if she could see their minds.
“Taking up her offer would be too much a burden for her as a civilian and place her and the residents around in harm's way. Regardless,” Admiral Lindy went back to business, “we need to start operations soon. Amy. Please seek out a suitable location for the base of operations away from the urban areas.”
Fate was not really listening, lost in her thoughts. Part of her conscious briefly noted that Admiral Lindy was in command mode, giving out the orders of the mission to the respective recipient. So strong but still with an air of beauty and gentleness.
Arisa and Suzuka had been most welcoming to her when she first came to live in Terra. However, this was the first time she actually saw Arisa truly blew it. Fate truly felt sorry for her. Arisa only wanted to help... she decided that she will look for her later to explain things out. Once this mission is over...
“Fate.”
Fate snapped into attention to see Admiral Lindy's concerned look. “Yes, Admiral Lindy.”
There was a flash of disappointment on Admiral Lindy's face before she spoke composedly.
“Fate, I am going over to Graham's destroyed cottage to retrieve some items. Can you come along?”
“Ah, Nanoha-chan?” the subject asked uncertainly.
“I will be locating the rest of the magical population under the bureau in the region,” Nanoha replied. Then she nudged Fate gently. “Go along with Lindy-san, you know you want to,” she whispered.
She was more used to working with Nanoha... but then, it could a chance to...
“What about Graham?” Fate asked as she looked towards the old man on the bed. He was slowly putting on his reading glasses again while reopening the book to where he left off.
“I'll be fine. Aria and Lotte will protect me,” he said as the twin familiars nodded in response, their eyes glinting with conviction.
Finally she signed, “Yes, Admiral Lindy.”
“Very well then,” Graham said while his eyes never left the book, “Are you going to continue keeping an injured old man from resting?”
With words of farewell and good will, the group left the ward and the hospital. Then with an agreement to contact each other later, they split up for their respective tasks, leaving Fate and Admiral Lindy standing alone.
“Well, Fate,” Admiral Lindy said with a gentle smile, “Shall we go?”
Fate nodded quietly and followed closely behind her.
“It is not really time to fly there with the public still awake,” Admiral Lindy said, raising a hand to hail a cab, “Does Bardiche have a translation mode? You might need it.”
The mage shook her head lightly, her twin ponytails swung behind her. At least, she had never tried it before. It was slightly uncomfortable for Fate to be alone with her mother figure, especially when she was constantly nagged by the thought in her head.
“You can always answer me later,” Admiral Lindy said softly, guessing correctly what was in Fate's mind, “Do not let that jeopardize the mission.”
A pregnant silence reigned for a short while. Then the Admiral asked, “So where do you want to go after the mission? There should be plenty of nice places around...”
“Oh,” Fate recalled the information she had read up on from the holiday guides in the library. “There is the Big Ben, the palace, the London Eye...” she recited off her mind in childish excitement, betraying her enthusiasm. She especially wanted to enjoy the London Eye with Nanoha...
Admiral Lindy could only smile. Despite her usually mature outlook, after her experience with Precia Testarossa, Fate was ultimately still a child with precious innocence and future.
While there were surely classified and important artifacts to be retrieved from Graham's home, there was also some other items she had wanted to show Fate. Personal items.
There was a braking sound of a cab stopping before them. Then a man looked out of the window and asked, “Where to, ma'am?”
Admiral Lindy passed the driver a piece of paper with the address scribbled on it.
“Will do, ma'am,” the driver glanced at the address and opened the doors, “All aboard.”
As the cab drove towards their destination, Fate looked towards the gradually darkening sky. Night would soon fall. Hopefully, Amy would be able to find some suitable location to stay for the night. There was always the hotels... or Arisa's offer...
Well, first things first. She would retrieve the items with Admiral Lindy and meet up with the rest later. Instinctively, Fate felt for the comforting shape of Bardiche in her pocket and looked at the Admiral's calm, gentle face. Just in case... but if anything happen, she would protect the Admiral with all she got.
Officially mother or not, she promised.
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“Arisa-chan! Wait for me!”
Suzuka's voice accompanied the sound of running feet and rolling luggage behind Arisa. Arisa was burning. Arisa was not happy. And when Arisa got unhappy, she got mad.
How could they reject her? What was this about safety? They knew that that would be their best option! She was only trying to help!
“Arisa-chan! How can you be so rude and left just like that!”
Suzuka had caught up with Arisa, slowing down from her running pace to that of the hot-tempered girl's. Arisa ignored her friend's chiding voice, venting her anger on the floor with her angry stomps. Save for Suzuka, there was no one else to stop her.
Lindy-san might be cool but for all Arisa cared, the Bureau was out to deny their precious friendship with Nanoha and Fate. It was all a conspiracy to keep them separate, to keep them apart, and eventually they would be forgotten by the work-consumed mages of their group. Despite their best efforts, Arisa could already sense the invisible divide between them and the mages.
She hated that.
She hated the sense of helplessness against the quiet distancing between them.
“Arisa-chan!” Suzuka made a grab for her shoulder to stop her rampage, “Stop acting like a spoilt brat!”
Arisa came to a halt, standing in the hallway, looking to the ground in silent contemplation.
“You can sense it, right?... Us... them...” Arisa spoke softly, clenching her fists in frustration, “The invisible divide...”
Suzuka placed her gentle hands on her friend's shoulders and patted lightly in consolation. “I know,” she replied easily, “but we can't do anything about it. I am sure they had our best interest at heart. They are part of a world that we are not and can never be in. All we can do is to watch and give them our best support.”
“Not, this, thing!” her voice softened in unhappiness. Her outburst was repeated in succession with decreasing audibility as it echoed across the empty hallway.
There was a moment of silence. Suzuka too felt similar sentiments towards Arisa's outcry despite her calmer outlook. Then, with a determined glare, Arisa declared, “We will help whether they like it or not! Because we are friends! We will catch this stupid thief that force them to come here!”
Suzuka gave a light laugh, it would be quite difficult to convince Arisa otherwise once she had made up her mind. Given how impossible her new goal would be, hopefully it would keep them occupied until Nanoha's and Fate's mission would be over.
Not that she fully opposed Arisa's reasoning either.
That was when they took a good look at where they were.
The empty corridor. Empty benches. Not a patient or hospital staff in sight. The sun outside seem to be setting. Save for the florescent light above and from the vending machine behind casting their eerie glow, the place would be quite dark.
“Suzuka-chan, where are we?” Arisa asked hesitantly.
Suzuka shook her head in answer. She had been too concerned with catching up with Arisa to notice where they were heading. Walking forward, she tried to look for any signs that would lead them out.
Arisa followed behind and tried the closest door. Locked. With a sign, she checked her watch for the time. It was getting late and they had yet to even settle down at their lodgings. That was when she heard it.
Footsteps. Soft footsteps approaching from behind.
“Did you hear footsteps?” Arisa whispered frantically to Suzuka as she hurried back to the side of her friend.
“No,” Suzuka replied, still dragging the luggage behind her, still unsure of her current location.
Arisa heard it again, the footsteps, louder. She was very sure it was not her imagination.
“There it was again,” she whispered with a higher degree of urgency only to meet sorry consolation from Suzuka.
“I'm sure it was only your imagination. Places like here plays up one's mind...” Suzuka was about to continue when the shuffling footsteps became louder and closer. That too caught Suzuka's attention.
Then there was a 'tap', the grinding sound of machine mechanics and the sound of metal can dropping into the chute of the vending machine. Fumbling of plastic cover before the satisfied sign of having retrieved one's canned coffee from the machine.
Someone else had came. Slowly, they turned around to take a look.
It was a woman dressed in patient's gown and shawl at the vending machine. She was tall and had long wavy dark hair that reached her shoulders. She looked beautiful and to a certain degree, fragile. The lady was about to turn back when she seemed to have noticed the lost girls since she smiled warmly towards the staring girls and then approached them.
“What are two girls doing in this part of the hospital at this part of the day?” the lady asked, her voice warm and friendly as she placed a hand on their shoulders. Arisa could not help but notice that the tag around her wrist was white.
“Ask her,” Suzuka looked towards Arisa helplessly for the 'native English' to speak for them. Arisa was much better in English than she was.
Arisa quickly composed her speech in her mind as the lady gazed at them with concerned eyes. After some stammering, she spoke, “We are lost in here. Can you help us out?”
“Yes, that would not be a problem,” the lady replied and motioned them to follow her, “Please come with me.”
The girls quickly followed behind, relieved that their way out was at hand. As they walked alongside the lady, Arisa asked out of curiosity, “Why is that area so quiet?”
“People don't like to go there,” the lady replied without loosing her footing, “it is not a suitable place for young girls like you.”
“Not when you have so much more ahead of you,” she added softly, with a tinge of regret in her voice.
That quietened Arisa and they continued their way towards the lobby of the hospital with only the footsteps and heavy breathing from the lady. When the nurse at the lobby saw the lady, she quickly went forward to support her. The lady waved her hand lightly to signal that she was fine, then she pointed towards the main entrance of the hospital for the girls.
“There it is,” she said with some difficulty, “Don't get lost again.” She had been wheezing from her walk. Another nurse wheeled a wheelchair towards the lady and the lady slackened into it with some reluctance.
“How can we thank you?” Suzuka asked, visibly upset that they had inconvenienced the fragile lady through her aid to them.
The lady shook her head, “No, it was good to walk around occasionally.”
“Then, we'll visit you,” Arisa said impulsively, “I'm sure that will be fine.”
The lady smiled weakly and nodded in agreement.
“Then, how do we find you?”
“My name is Testarossa, Precious Testarossa,” their guide replied softly before the nurse proceed to wheel her back to her ward, “Feel free to come.”
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The cab came to a halt in front of an isolated cottage on the outskirts of the city. When it left, two female figures, one of them mature, the other still a child, remained behind, looking at the building before them.
Then with a confident step, they went forward and disappeared behind the shimmering illusion field.
Admiral Lindy and Fate surveyed the ruins of what remained of Graham's home. Most of it had been leveled, safe for the porch and a couple of surviving rooms at the end. With an upset frown, the Admiral went towards the ruins, opening the forlorn front door carefully and entering. Fate quickly followed behind, amazed and saddened by the sights.
From the looks of it, the blast that destroyed most of the house came from within. Surprisingly, there were some furnitures that were still intact. Probably the main purpose of the blast was to make a quick escape route, or they were 'unfortunate' collateral damage during the ensuring fight.
Fate picked up a cracked photo frame from the ground and gave it a little dust. It was a photo of Admiral Lindy, her deceased husband, infant Chrono and Graham. They were a family.
Those past smiles reminded her of her own possible future. She could join them. Be a family. Have a mother like Admiral Lindy who was hugging infant Chrono in the photograph, looking so happy and satisfied.
The setting sun cast an orange hue onto the cottage ruins. Beyond the rays of the sun, the night sky was casting itself, engulfing the sky slowly with darkness.
“Fate, come here, “Admiral Lindy said to Fate over the quiet ruins, “Look at this.” A light ball was hovering over her shoulder as she knelt, dusting the photo album with her hands. “These are my old photos from my trainee days.”
Removing the photograph from the cracked frame and putting it into her pouch, the young mage made her way briskly towards her Admiral.
