Post by othus on Nov 30, 2021 1:30:40 GMT
Year 2040, Mage World, Earth.
"How is she holding up?"-Arthur asked the doctor as he watched his wife bedridden at the hospital.
"As well as someone with the virus can be. Her unique metabolism is granting her some time, but I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to save her"
Cromwell took the lift and reached the top of the building as he took a deep breath. Had he known this world would be destroyed by a virus, he would have fled instead with his family a long time ago.
Arthur looked at a pack of cigarettes he had bought some time ago. Never smoked them, but this time he damn sure wanted to.
"There you are...I thought You said you didn't smoke?"- A voice behind him called for the mage.
"Akane. Been a couple days since we last saw each other. I would say something funny, but now is a terrible time"
"I have been thinking about what that drifter version of me said....I'm taking her offer, Arthur. I will merge with her"
"You can't be serious, we can't trust her"
"She said one of these so-called sacred treasures has the power to destroy the virus. You and me, we are not human, but what about Ann? What about Hyun? Are you letting them have the same fate as Haruko and Soon? As all the ones we have lost?"
Arthur clenched his fist and let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Don't you think it's funny though? Kuro, The bringer of winter, Yamiko...we dealt with so many of them...all so this world could die at the hands of a virus...i guess we just can't hack away at this problem, can we? perhaps if Iris was still around, she would have been able to deal with this"
"There is still hope. With the time disparity, I will be back by Sunday. Arthur, you are the closest friend I have and quite probably the best mage left in this world...I came here to ask you this while I'm still myself: won't you come with me?"
Arthur shook his head and smiled
"You are at the archmage rank as well, Akane. Sorry, but I'll pass. I need to be by Hyun's side on her final moments"
"I guess this is farewell then. Next time we meet, if we ever do, I'll be someone else. Worry not though, I will save everyone. that is my promise"
Cromwell walked that night back home to an empty mansion. He turned the knob on his door and noticed it was no longer locked. The ice mage entered his home and formed an ice saber on his hand.
“I’m not in the mood for delinquents, if you are still in my house, take whatever you want and leave already”
“I am hardly a delinquent, Cromwell-San”
Arthur saw a familiar face. It was Akane, but not the one of his world.
“What do you want?”
“What’s up with the attitude? I thought we were best friends?”-Musashi said as she made her way downstairs right to the entrance where Arthur was.
“I might be terrible at recognizing faces, but I would never mistake the Akane I know for you”
“But I am the Akane you know, Arthur. I just...know far more now. She wasn’t lying, you know? The sacred treasures she spoke about”
“Is that so? still, I have no idea if you are just bluffing or if the Akane I know is still in there for real”
“It’s complicated, I’ll grant you that. Remember our conversation at the rooftop? I had a feeling I was right. Arthur, I need you. The world these sacred treasures exist in, it’s not going to be an easy journey. The plan this Akane had, She’s...I’m gonna be hopping to a few more alternate worlds before I can even begin searching for the sacred treasures.”
“I remember the conversation, and I believe I said no”-Arthur opened the door to his home and pointed outside
“You would rather give up on Hyun than take your chances at saving her? the Arthur I know would charge headfirst into battle”
“Yeah? well maybe those times are over”
“Without your Accel edge, I won’t be able to make it inside the temple. If you refuse, I have to search other universes until I find an Arthur willing to help me. I will be leaving in 3 hours, at London’s clock tower. Arthur, fight by my side one last time”
Akane walked out the door and Arthur closed it as soon as she exited, the ice mage sat right at the entrance and leaned against the closed door.
“One last time huh?”
The council made the drifter portal according to Musashi’s specifications, right before she was about to walk in, Arthur arrived.
“I knew you would come”
Akane told her long time friend with a smile
“Now, let us depart. To the next world!”
"How is she holding up?"-Arthur asked the doctor as he watched his wife bedridden at the hospital.
"As well as someone with the virus can be. Her unique metabolism is granting her some time, but I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to save her"
Cromwell took the lift and reached the top of the building as he took a deep breath. Had he known this world would be destroyed by a virus, he would have fled instead with his family a long time ago.
Arthur looked at a pack of cigarettes he had bought some time ago. Never smoked them, but this time he damn sure wanted to.
"There you are...I thought You said you didn't smoke?"- A voice behind him called for the mage.
"Akane. Been a couple days since we last saw each other. I would say something funny, but now is a terrible time"
"I have been thinking about what that drifter version of me said....I'm taking her offer, Arthur. I will merge with her"
"You can't be serious, we can't trust her"
"She said one of these so-called sacred treasures has the power to destroy the virus. You and me, we are not human, but what about Ann? What about Hyun? Are you letting them have the same fate as Haruko and Soon? As all the ones we have lost?"
Arthur clenched his fist and let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Don't you think it's funny though? Kuro, The bringer of winter, Yamiko...we dealt with so many of them...all so this world could die at the hands of a virus...i guess we just can't hack away at this problem, can we? perhaps if Iris was still around, she would have been able to deal with this"
"There is still hope. With the time disparity, I will be back by Sunday. Arthur, you are the closest friend I have and quite probably the best mage left in this world...I came here to ask you this while I'm still myself: won't you come with me?"
Arthur shook his head and smiled
"You are at the archmage rank as well, Akane. Sorry, but I'll pass. I need to be by Hyun's side on her final moments"
"I guess this is farewell then. Next time we meet, if we ever do, I'll be someone else. Worry not though, I will save everyone. that is my promise"
Cromwell walked that night back home to an empty mansion. He turned the knob on his door and noticed it was no longer locked. The ice mage entered his home and formed an ice saber on his hand.
“I’m not in the mood for delinquents, if you are still in my house, take whatever you want and leave already”
“I am hardly a delinquent, Cromwell-San”
Arthur saw a familiar face. It was Akane, but not the one of his world.
“What do you want?”
“What’s up with the attitude? I thought we were best friends?”-Musashi said as she made her way downstairs right to the entrance where Arthur was.
“I might be terrible at recognizing faces, but I would never mistake the Akane I know for you”
“But I am the Akane you know, Arthur. I just...know far more now. She wasn’t lying, you know? The sacred treasures she spoke about”
“Is that so? still, I have no idea if you are just bluffing or if the Akane I know is still in there for real”
“It’s complicated, I’ll grant you that. Remember our conversation at the rooftop? I had a feeling I was right. Arthur, I need you. The world these sacred treasures exist in, it’s not going to be an easy journey. The plan this Akane had, She’s...I’m gonna be hopping to a few more alternate worlds before I can even begin searching for the sacred treasures.”
“I remember the conversation, and I believe I said no”-Arthur opened the door to his home and pointed outside
“You would rather give up on Hyun than take your chances at saving her? the Arthur I know would charge headfirst into battle”
“Yeah? well maybe those times are over”
“Without your Accel edge, I won’t be able to make it inside the temple. If you refuse, I have to search other universes until I find an Arthur willing to help me. I will be leaving in 3 hours, at London’s clock tower. Arthur, fight by my side one last time”
Akane walked out the door and Arthur closed it as soon as she exited, the ice mage sat right at the entrance and leaned against the closed door.
“One last time huh?”
The council made the drifter portal according to Musashi’s specifications, right before she was about to walk in, Arthur arrived.
“I knew you would come”
Akane told her long time friend with a smile
“Now, let us depart. To the next world!”