| A Battle on the Ice with a Sleight of Hand

Arc 1 | A Detectives End

Phase 1 | The 13th Star Etched In History

11:23 PM ~

Luna heard grunts of something tearing down someplace else in the mansion. It could only mean the battle against the cindertaur had already begun. Luna instinctively dived into the scene, almost exiting the infirmary room, only to be held up by the whimpering voice of Ko, who was still lying in bed. The team agreed that Luna had the most combat experience in terms of using her aptitude offensively. Tsubasa enlightened the possibility that the man in the darkness and the cindertaur were working together and may have some ulterior purpose to injure Ko. It was a very unlikely assumption; Ko was just an ordinary maid who served the Astrea household. Tsubasa's thinking could be described as delusional or even paranoid. But she had a point, as she would be the most fitting candidate to attend to Ko's safety, even though it was a detrimental and risky choice. Luna would also be just as, if not more, useful on the battlefield than on the sidelines. But Luna trusted Tsubasa's judgment that she would overcome the obstacle by facing the cindertaur and finding Yo. "It is not safe, Master Luna." Ko stared off to the ceiling drearily; she was too weak to move her head about.

[Luna]: "I know Ko, but I need to somehow help the others! It would end in disaster without me!"Luna pleaded with Ko to realize that securing her safety would compromise the others.

[Ko]: "If you must, please at least take a mana elixir with you."Ko pointed her finger to a cabinet drawer in the infirmary; her head was still facing the ceiling.

[Luna]: "Thank you, Ko; we will surely win."Luna tucked Ko into her blanket gently and gave her a warm smile infused with determination.

[Ko]: "Master Theresia would be proud...zzz*"

With Ko dosed off, Luna quickly rummaged through the cabinet that had the mana elixir and chugged the potion down in one big gulp. Feeling more invigorated, the mana elixir gave Luna access to magic once more.

Though the potion was just green liquid in a little bottle, it was still enough to cast a few strong spells temporarily. Basking in fury and determination, she came to the meeting, heard the noise, and decided to join the fight.

Exiting the infirmary to meet the long corridor hall, she took a step forward just as the tip of her toe touched the red carpet. In the blink of an eye, she was met in the woods by a pouring, heavy drizzle of rain that soaked her dress within seconds after she got teleported out into the woods.

Despite the discomfort of her soaked dress, she stood tall, clutching the little bottle tightly in her hand. Determined to make the most of her temporary spells, she focused her energy and began to cast a protective shield around herself, shielding her from the relentless rain.

"We meet again, Luna," spinning 180 degrees Luna rapidly created a few ice spikes in thin air, instantly shooting them where she heard the voice speaking to her, presumably the one who teleported her away from the mansion and out into the open.

As the ice spikes pierced through the air, Luna's heart raced with anticipation. She knew she had to find a way to confront her mysterious captor and uncover the truth behind her sudden teleportation. With each step forward, she could feel her determination grow stronger, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her.

Only catching a glimpse of the disfigured, dark silhouette, he blinked out of vision and reappeared behind her, speaking to her again. Luna's body tensed as she spun around, her eyes narrowing in on the enigmatic figure.

His voice carried a chilling tone, sending shivers down her spine. Despite the fear creeping within her, Luna steeled herself, refusing to let his presence intimidate her. She knew that uncovering the truth would require unwavering courage and relentless pursuit. "That takes me back, haha". She spun herself again, this time slowly.

[???]: "Never gets old, does it, Luna? Or should I say, Ms. Myosotis?"

[Luna]: "Don't CALL ME that." He grinned at that retort pleasurably.

[???]: "Ah, but it suits you so well, Ms. Myosotis. After all, your name means 'forget-me-not' in Latin. Quite fitting for someone with a past like yours."

[Luna]: "My past is none of your concern. I'm here to find answers, not reminisce." He chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement.

[???]: Ok, ok, easy now; you're still going with the 'Luna' name.

[Luna]: "It's the only name I'll answer to."

[???]: "Fair enough, Luna. But remember, your past may not be my concern, but it certainly holds the key to those answers you seek." So which cycle is this? The 12th? Oh no, wait, 13th, right? Your last chance?

[Luna]: "Cycle numbers don't matter to me. Each one brings me closer to the truth, regardless of how many there have been."

[???]: "Indeed, Luna. But this 13th cycle could be the one where everything finally falls into place for you." Luna kept shooting large icicles while he was still talking.

[???]: "Your determination is admirable, Luna. Keep pushing forward and trust that the answers you seek will reveal themselves in due time."

[Luna]: "I won't stop until I uncover the truth, no matter how many cycles it takes."

[???]: "How long will you realize that she's gone forever? Are you still clinging onto the hope that the 13th would bring her back?"

[Luna]: "SHUT UP"The icicles became larger and faster, but the man casually dodged them all with ease.

[???]: "Shedding so much blood for one person...is that what she would want? It's not like it did anything anyway. The man was Laughing like a maniac, and Luna had broken her final wall.

[Luna]: "I'LL KILL YOU."

Divine Aptitude: To Be Snowed Under

The exceptionally dense freezing mist rolled in like stones, prepared to trample whatever was in their path. Any sliver of light seemed to be completely consumed by the extreme coolness, which was consuming. There was no longer any hope.

The ice suddenly gushed down, resembling gagged knives, and threw itself toward the man who was mocking Luna. The thousands of razor-sharp daggers buried in the rocks appeared to sever the water.

Along the craggy surface of the wisdom rock, the water began to fall like a waterfall. Huge waves of frost crashed and erupted like lava pouring down from a furious volcano as a result of the ruthless winds. It separates, enraged by the powerful storm, like an agitated wild beast; Luna's powers go hand-in-hand with the enraged storm.

The storm's fury intensified, causing Luna's powers to surge even more. With a flick of her wrist, she commanded the raging winds to whip around her, forming a protective barrier. As the storm raged on, Luna stood unyielding, ready to defend herself against any further mockery.

The wind gusts slice through the biting thorns of trees as the waves batter the rocks with all their strength. A single brilliant, bright light, which had pierced the incredibly dense cloud and fog like a laser, was inscribed on the massive tree trunk. Its source was clearly visible as a small, inferior lighthouse located on top of a cliff, looking like a bird sitting on its nest and watching its nest break into a thousand pieces.

The lighthouse stood tall, its beacon casting a defiant glow amidst the chaos. Its feeble size seemed insignificant compared to the towering cliffs and crashing waves, yet it remained steadfast, a symbol of hope amid the destruction.

The relentless storm raged on, but the lighthouse continued to shine, undeterred and resolute. Only faint, ghostly silhouettes of the man could be seen in the murky, opaque block of water below.

The delicate body of the man was indiscriminately hurled upon the nearby trees and rocks with each wave. A swarm of birds has perched above, seeking refuge from the icy winds in any kind of cover they can find.

The extremely dense, impenetrable clouds gave them the impression that they had lost their course. Despite this, the strong, superb wind continued to blow everything out of the way with no sign of a struggle—only total ease.

The cloud boulders persisted, looming over the man like an overbearing mother watching over her naughty child. There was no sign of an end in sight or that the incredibly strong wind would soon stop, supposedly. There's no way the man survived all her ferocious attacks, right?" Wow, what power!"

The man, slowly making himself visible to her, approached slowly while clapping his hands avidly, although his slackening expression remained after all Luna's efforts to decapitate him, despite how aggressively fatal her attacks were.

It didn't look like it had any effect on him whatsoever. Luna's frustration grew as she realized that her attempts to harm the man were futile. She wondered if there was something more to him, something beyond her understanding, that made him impervious to her ferocious attacks.

As if nothing had happened. The innumerable trees that were thought to be destroyed reverted back to their original state before Luna had her outburst of fury. The man stopped coming closer and viewed the surroundings with pity.

"Now look at the mess you made." Luna's heart sank as she observed the man's reaction. It was clear that he possessed a power or ability that surpassed her own, leaving her feeling helpless and insignificant in comparison.

She couldn't help but wonder what kind of being he truly was and what his purpose might be in this strange encounter. He clapped his hands together and caused an explosive reverberation.

The explosion rendered the ground and air lifeless, right down to the minute atom. Everything was back to normal. Untouched. No amount of damage would've mattered.

The man played god and brought the forest back to a state of unknown origin. The trees that were struck down by the thunderstorm also returned undamaged. "Would you like me to get rid of the weather too? Maybe the cindertaurs too? Did you actually think that was my doing?" He began laughing hysterically while gazing at the obscured sky. The man's laughter echoed through the newly revived forest, his amusement seemingly boundless.

As he continued to gaze at the obscured sky, a sense of power and control emanated from him. It was clear that he possessed an ability far beyond mere restoration; he could shape and manipulate the very fabric of nature itself. What do you want? Shows the unnamed man the cold shoulder, a complete reverse of how Luna was around Tsubasa and the others. Instead of her cherry smile, shown with a very blank but fearful frown, Luna stopped lifting up her eyebrows, which gave her a positive presence, and her face turned droopy with a deathly glare that could pierce anyone's heart to pieces. He shrugged casually."Nothing really; that acting was priceless, by the way; describing me like I'm some myth really puts the icing on top!" Luna didn't respond to that comment, not blinking once amid the heavy rain. "If you dare lay a finger on Tsubasa, I'll wipe you out of existence myself. There was no anger in her tone; it was just a monotonous declaration with no emotion, unlike before. The man scoffed. "You couldn't even lay a scratch on me? What makes you think you can kill me?" Luna's eyes narrowed, her gaze unwavering. "It's not about physical strength," she said calmly. "I have powers you can't even begin to comprehend." The man's confident smirk faltered, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he took a step back. For the first time since their encounter. Luna smiled.

[Luna]: "I still have knowledge of the forbidden techniques; perhaps killing myself would stop you?"The man frowned. He could sense the underlying threat in Luna's words and realized that underestimating her was a grave mistake. His confidence wavered further as he contemplated the consequences of continuing to challenge her.

[???]: Ok, ok, have it your way; I still need what's inside of your little brain anyway. Besides, I was seriously checking up on you to make sure you don't make mistakes." Luna's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with determination. "But remember, if you try anything deceitful or harm those I care about, I won't hesitate to use those forbidden techniques against you."

[Luna]: "I hope you understand the gravity of my warning. Now, let's focus on the matter at hand. How are the others?"

[???]: Oh, so noooow you care about the others. You are the only one I found, unfortunately. If I find that even one of them is even on the same damn continent as the Sorcerer Supreme...I really don't like dealing with him." He couldn't sound more defeated if he tried.

[Luna]: "Afraid?"

[???]: "Don't mock me, child, but nah, but he will continue to get stronger with each passing generation. It would be really annoying for me to fight him. Seriously, why can't Theresia just kill him already? I hate that they haven't fought yet; the popcorn is already cold!"

[Luna]: How stupid are you? If they fought, the whole world would get caught in their fight, which complicates things for us."

[???]: Yeah, yeah, but c'mon, you must admit it would be fun to watch![Luna]: "Could you actually defeat them?" He paused to think about Luna's query: "It would be difficult. It's hard to say since I couldn't kill the first sword saint, so stalemate? One thing I don't understand is: what's up with Tsubasa's attitude? I thought it was just that fire stuff? But that's not it, is it?"

[Luna]: "Keep your business to yourself; I'll investigate it myself, so buzz off and go stalk someone else, or maybe make yourself useful; you're the most powerful, but all you do is slack off, letting us do the dirty work; you're only useful when it matters, you creep."

[???]: EXACTLY," he pointed with both his index fingers like a child.[Luna]: "Get lost."[???]: Okay, ok, nice catching up... " He crept up to Luna once more and whispered. Also, stop going easy on me." In a split second, he left.

[Luna]: "You always know how to push my buttons, don't you? But fine, I won't go easy on you anymore. Just remember, next time we meet, it won't be as friendly."

Luna watched him disappear into the shadows with a deadly look on her face. A Cindertaur appeared before Luna; she raised her hand and flicked her arm towards the beast in a calm manner, not fazed that a beast of destruction was loitering in front of her.

The Cindertaur let out a low growl, its fiery eyes narrowing as Luna's power effortlessly repelled it. She smirked, her confidence radiating, as she declared, "You're no match for me.

Consider this a warning." With a flick of her wrist, the Cindertaur vanished into thin air, leaving Luna standing alone in the darkness. After completely impaling the beast, all that was left was an ice statue posing with its mouth out.

Luna clenched her fist, which simultaneously shattered the statue like popping confetti. A burst of ice particle residue rained down and dissipated. I guess I should get back to my Tsu. Luna smiled at the thought of Tsubasa; her cherry smile reappeared, and she was back to her old self.

Thinking that she may be in danger gave her all the more reason and determination to clean up the horde of cindertaurs roaming in the forest."Maybe I should've asked him to get rid of the cindertaurs. Not like he would've done it anyway".

11:32PM~

After being mauled repeatedly by the death-dealing cindertaur. Tsubasa had yet to discover a form of irrevocable weakness that would eventually, hopefully, eliminate her foe from the face of the planet.

But in the current scenario, that didn't seem likely. The Ace of Spades card from earlier that Tsubasa cast directly at the beast didn't seem to have much effect; rather, it made it even more agitated than before their impending encounter.

One thing that Tsubasa and the cindertaur had in common was that they had an affinity for fire, meaning it would only be natural that the very element the beast was most familiar and tolerated with wouldn't do so much for a killing blow.

Right after she used one of her five cards that were imbued with her Divine Aptitude, the cindertaur went to hell over leather towards Tsubasa. Ack."

After enduring a heavy blow that propelled Tsubasa to a stone wall of the mansion complex, she struggled to get up. Dammit! My back hurts like hell!

I already used up one of my cards, and it dealt no damage to the stupid mutt whatsoever. Maybe I should use it again from another angle.

Tsubasa was in serious trouble, having an injured back and being a bloodthirsty beast. She had no idea how to overcome this obstacle. She couldn't rely on Daphne or Luna, as they were dealing with battles of their own.

Tsubasa was completely on her own in this face-off. Panting horrendously given the few seconds she would have before the beast made another move on the chessboard, on the spur of the moment, an idea did linger in Tsubasa's mind about the risky predicament she was in.

Going for another angle, reattempting to use her cards she had spent the last fifteen or so minutes crafting whilst averting from the cindertaur paws of death. She wouldn't let it go to waste after one failure.

This time, painfully but successfully, Tsubasa managed to stand up straight, enduring the wretched pain of being slammed against the stone wall.

She still has ample fighting spirit. Alas, the cindertaur charged again, and Tsubasa followed suit to close the distance too. She bolted herself along the stone pavement, making use of the animosity the beast had for her as it charged mindlessly with ludicrous speed.

She evaded it by sliding below it just as it was about to claw her into minced meat. "King of Diamonds!" Hurling another card, this time up its throat for a more definite and vital spot. The explosion was strong enough to create an open wound with blood pouring out.

The stone pavement, in addition to the rain, made it wet, making it fairly easy for Tsubasa to slide underneath, which caught the cindertaur off guard and defenseless. Her attack was more successful than the first; going for a vital point made it worthwhile to risk herself being up close and personal.

"Yes!" Sliding past the beast, which shrieked in agony with the thundering storm. Tsubasa got on her feet once more.

The cindertaur was like a jukebox on repeat, and the shrieking was endless and full-on clamorous. The pure angst it held for Tsubasa was so hell-bent that it immediately went after her despite realizing how much pain she suffered from her deceiving attack. Oh no, the cindertaur is so mad that the pain doesn't even bother it! Tsubasa needed to think of another tactic.

Nothing came to mind as being constantly preached to by an 11-foot-tall mutt disallows one to think properly. Nonetheless, Tsubasa continued to rack her brain amid parkour. Come on, anything that can shut this beast down for good! The garden! Thats it!

She watches the garden from a distance; dodging and weaving were especially difficult. Tsubasa wasn't the agile type capable enough to live up to such a feat. She admitted that Daphne would be better suited for this cindertaur, not that she knew other cindertaurs were any different.

But the pain finally caught up to the cindertaur; its animalistic performances slowly deteriorated as time passed, making it easier for Tsubasa to maneuver even with her throbbing back and lethargy.

This gave her more distance to separate herself from the cindertaur. She eventually reached the garden shelter, where she initially met the cindertaur, trying to find Yo. It didn't take long for the cindertaur to catch up to her, dashing at high speeds, increasing its momentum, and heaving itself at Tsubasa blindly once more.

Tsubasa evaded at the very last second, taking advantage of the beast's aggravation towards her, ultimately leading to its downfall. The cindertaur crashed itself into the garden shelter; the more it moved, even an inch, the more the ceiling above would collapse in on itself.

However, just when Tsubasa thought she was safe, A gust of fire erupted from the garden shelter; the cindertaur was fuming with literal and, most likely, spiritual flames. Even though its throat was still spewing out blood, it didn't matter to it; killing Tsubasa was all it could think about.

Tsubasa was already at her limit; doing any more physical actions would leave her immobile. The only thing she could do on the spur of the moment was to use more of her cards as a last resort. Come on, come on, come on, where are the other three? She couldn't find her cards when it mattered and would die in doing so. Just as she rummaged through her jacket and pockets for the remaining powered cards, the cindertaur got in close—close enough to bite her head off. When all luck seemed to run out for Tsubasa. A clap filled with a fortissimo ruptured the atmosphere, and a thunder strike pierced the cindertaur, which was right above Tsubasa; its body was negating any damage that would have supposedly been dealt to Tsubasa. Wha-?"

Tsubasa crawled away from the corpse of the tainted beast, remembering that its coal-black skin was capable of burning anyone foolish enough to touch it. I needed to get back to the others, coughing out blood wasn't a good sign; She wasn't in any condition to help the others, and the pouring rain would soon envelop her.

11:44~

"Ngh ahhAHHHHH"A malevolent thrusting kick full of pink-colored lightning from Daphne's light-step attack battered the cindertaur to an oblivious relapse. Completely knocking the cindertaur to the other side of the hallway like a child kicking the lonely stone on an empty pavement in front of her out of her own thrill. "O-OUCH THAT FUDGING STINGS DAMMIT," she said, making direct contact with the beast's skin with her feet. Although she had her shoes on, the acidic effect continued to spread through her shoes, making its way to her skin. Hit for a hit, Daphne's attack wouldn't go unpunished.

The cindertaur passive counter proved itself to be annoying; unlike Tsubasa, who used her wits and range to defeat her enemy, Daphne relied on her close-quarter combat experience from fighting off thugs and guards.

In other words, she could not use her ability at an effective range without using any physical and tangible means. Yo and Ro could only watch from a distance; a very dangerous aura lingered around Daphne.

An aura of pink lightning swirls around her, creating narratives of erratic behavior. "Let us try this again!"Sundering Weave. The sundering weave was a powerful technique that Daphne had learned through years of intense training.

It allowed her to channel her inner energy and unleash devastating attacks on her opponents. However, the drawback was that it required her to be in close proximity to her target, making it difficult for her to use it against enemies who kept their distance. Charging at full speed once more, Daphne uses her momentum. Using the large distance she created by kicking the cindertaur a kilometer away, she built up an accumulative frequency that supercharges herself in her lighting.

She uses her leaning head to dash first to minimize any resistance that would slow her down. The cindertaur hesitated shakingly. shuddering in fear. Daphne thrust her right fist and punctured it into the beast's head. No sense of remorse, no pity, and not a peep of noise came from the husky carcass; it was done like that.

Daphne superseded the speed of an animal's natural instinct. Making any effort of escape or retaliation futile. Yo and Ro were not combatants, nor were they foreigners wielding such weapons as battle axes, yet they made minimal contributions.

It wasn't like they were afraid to fight the cindertaur or lacked strength. Rather, they felt their intuition telling them that leaving it to Daphne would be the safest option; her ability would only harm anyone in its proximity.

"Incredible Master Daphne!" Both maids commented in unison. "Heh heh, aw shucks, vanquishing that thing was fun!" Daphne says this while scratching her head. Um, guys, this might sound surprising, but did anyone else catch wind that there was another cindertaur just outside?" Yo and Ro turned and stared at each other's pupils. "?" Their expressions said it all; only Daphne felt the presence of another fight. Anyways, let's get you guys back with your big sister; I need to help whoever is in trouble!"

Daphne broke the window on the second floor and proceeded to vault over it. "..." Yo and Ro were amazed and perplexed by Daphne; she was stupidly strong for her petite size, but they felt grateful she was there with them. "Let's do our part and make them a feast they will never forget!"

Pumping their fists in the air like a party rave, the two sisters found hope in the three brave girls risking their lives. With Daphne's ability, she can easily explore the complex and notice anything, including the collapsed garden shelter. Now let's see here, heh? That's a lot of blood! Ah, I was right! There really was another cindertaur, and now it's toast. Mmm, I still haven't had dinner yet because of these guys! Wait, what are these cards doing here? Picking up the remnants of Tsubasa's cards, namely the remaining three she had imbued with her ability, they were radiating a hot atmosphere next to the garden, which had been found demolished. Say, didn't Tsubasa have an interest in these cards? She did show care when she beat me and the other girl when we played cards about an hour ago. Ah, her cap is here too! Daphne picks up Tsubasa's detective hat; of course, it is completely soaked in rain. "Then where is Tsubasa?"