A/N: I'll post one of the two extra chapters I owe you from last week five minutes after this one.
-
"You think these guys are innocents?"
I pointed a thumb at the dead Leandra, well and truly flabbergasted by the expression on my Professor's face. It was the face of a hero when he was trying to stop a heroine from being overly brutal, reform her, then have her fall head-over-heels in love with him.
Was he gay?
I shivered and wrenched my hands free from his, dissipating the attempt at Hollow Purple. I'd only whipped it out because the moment and environment were convenient. That was it. There was no deeper significance to it.
In fact, I wanted more people to come after me and me alone.
Just thinking about all the code I'd be able to stea-… learn, had me all jittery-like. I was even wondering whether or not to thank Hephaestion's master for what he did. Somehow, the Professor had misconstrued that as me going all Itachi on everyone.
"Nobu, why the hell are you fighting her with a sword?! Aren't you supposed to be an Archer?"
My servant stared at me with that same ruthless gaze she adopted against foes, yet, I couldn't see it as unsettling anymore. With that same face, she kicked Hephaestion away from her, reeled her katana back like it was a stick and… lopped it at her face.
…
…
"That's still a sword."
She paused, then offered coolly. "Projectile weaponry is what makes one an Archer."
…
I knew that was bull… but I couldn't prove it just yet.
"So wait…" My Professor pinched the bridge of his nose. "You weren't about to kill a lot of people?"
"Not really. This train belongs to folk who regularly threaten and coerce folks into coming here, probably steal eyes too. The Master's a Dead Apostle, you can't defend them even if you want to." I pointed a finger at the quiet Heartless. "That guy's probably even worse~."
He cleared his throat, "I am, possibly."
"See?"
The Professor sighed.
"I was merely here to judge if Lord El-Melloi II was a threat to my goals… He is. His mind is. You are too, but you intend on participating in the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki, do you not?"
I didn't need to answer.
"Then, I have no quarrel here."
"But, why do you think you're going to be walking away?" I raised a brow, eying the blood all over the floor as he shrugged.
"Well, have I actually done anything?"
I deadpanned again, "You just got me a Sealing Designation."
He'd declared my abilities to the world, and told them I had Rainbow-ranked Mystic Eyes. Inorai's little ploy was certainly going to succeed now. Even if I did want that to happen at some point, it was to be on my own terms. His little stunt had just made drastic measures a necessity instead of an option.
Heartless closed his eyes. I was yet to remove my aviators. So long as he had a way to steal control of them, it just wasn't worth it to use them fully at all. Explosions rocked the forest around us as Nobunaga and Hephaestion clashed at superhuman speeds.
Slowly, the entire forest around us had caught fire.
"I understand. You attacking me here is reasonable then." He put a hand over his chest, grasping for his heart, "Sadly, I can not die just yet."
"So you know I'd fold you~."
He smiled politely then looked at what remained of the train and its staff. "Well, you are a rather fearsome enemy."
"Fair enough."
"Turn around, my heart." He chanted.
Then, he was simply gone. It wasn't speed. One moment he was there. The next, he was not.
Teleportation. Actual teleportation.
I used Blue to appear in the sky, and removed my aviators to scan the surroundings for miles and miles around us. Unfortunately, it was to no avail. He was nowhere to be found. The constant gunfire and lightning also stopped abruptly. I caught Nobunaga flying towards the train on one of her rifles.
…That was metal as hell.
She was just standing on it with her arms crossed. When she noticed me, she flew up to my side.
"I was playing with my prey, and it just disappeared. I feel dissatisfied. This is why dealing with cowards is no fun!" She flailed around a fist in protest, "Why must they be reasonable? Why will they not fight to the bitter end like fools and entertain me with their last throes?!"
Was this what dealing with me was like?
Other people were so incredibly lucky.
"That bastard didn't even let me copy it. No, I'm sure he told me he could control my eyes for that very reason." I groaned. "Yeah, sure, Blue lets me achieve something similar but actual teleportation would be way more convenient."
With another groan, I appeared back inside the train… or what remained of it. Caules jumped when I suddenly stood beside him. Even after noticing me, he took a step behind Gray. On the other hand, my adopted introvert didn't seem all that bothered by my actions in the very least even with how kind she usually was.
"Gray… shouldn't you be scared of me like he is?"
She shook her head from side to side. "Mm. I know they tried to take your sister. I think this… was appropriate. Thank you for letting the Professor finish his investigation first."
"I-…I'm not scared." Caules sighed, massaging his temple, "It was just a little surprising. I mean… I do know all the rumours but… this was my first time seeing just why they exist. I thought they were just-"
At least he wasn't like the rest of the New Agers who had ostracized me entirely, or the nobility who were trying to force me into their own factions. Well, Heartless' actions had made sure that wasn't going to happen anymore at least.
No, instead, everyone in the Mage's Association would think I was a problem that needed to be dealt with.
I was fine with that.
They were going to dub me a threat. I meant to prove to them that they were right. That I was the sort of threat you had to try to avoid or coexist with, lest you get removed entirely. Once I was done with this Sealing Designation, no one was going to even think about trying anything with Mama Smith or my little Ellie.
And, I had the best solution for it too. One that was going to be incredibly fun to go about.
"… What are you about to get up to now?"
I grinned at my Professor.
"Henry…" He slurred his words, head hung low.
I put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry about it. I won't trouble anyone else."
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Yvette popped her out of the rear-most row of seats. Her head shot around, then she slowly stepped out onto the walkway to take another look at the devastation.
"You guys, that was so hot-… Henry! Hal! Can I have the rest of the train?! Please! Pretty please! I'll have your babi-"
Apparently, not even brutally murdering everything on the train was enough to stop her wackiness for even a single second. Well, I supposed no actual magus would even bat an eye at this sort of thing anyway.
I held up a hand to stop her. "You can have it."
"I love you!"
"I don't love you. I'm taken."
-
When we returned to the Clock Tower the next day after another couple of train rides, I was welcomed to the city by the tolling of distant bells. My Professor suddenly looked as though he had seen some ghost and I realized he recognized them. But, the only thing on my mind then was returning to my family, so I left him to Gray before taking my leave. The whole way, magi stopped to stare at me. They would, now that Heartless had openly declared the rank of my eyes, and the scope of my abilities.
Honestly… I really should have listened to whatever he was trying to say when I left.
Maybe then, I would have been a little more restrained with my next steps.
But, well, that did not mean I regretted them in the slightest.
-
Hope you enjoyed.
If you find yourself somewhat disappointed for any reason, I request that you trust me for one more chapter.