"All right, since I'm buying space gear, do you have it ready, or will you customize it?" asked Élodie as she walked with her two friends toward the entrance of Séraphine's agency.
"I have a batch ready, but if you pay extra, I can customize one for you in whatever style and shape you want. The enchantment is flexible, so we don't have to stick to a specific appearance," replied Francisca, looking into the distance.
Several dozen meters away, across the street, a clown was performing a show for a small crowd of adults and children. The man seemed quite skilled because he was juggling various irregular objects instead of typical balls.
Although this could be considered a common scene, Francisca couldn't help but narrow her eyes. However, she didn't do anything drastic because she felt it was unnecessary. After all, it was just a curious clown, nothing more.
"I'd like a bracelet! So I can have my objects at my quick disposal." Although she was also curious about the clown's juggling act, she focused on what mattered and only paid a few seconds of attention to it.
"At least you wouldn't have to walk around with that huge hammer on your shoulder anymore. If we have to deal with a case, stealth is sometimes vital. Well, it's not like you're inconspicuous with that heavy weapon," Séraphine commented. However, unlike her two companions, she didn't miss the clown's act.
Her instinct told her that this man was more than he appeared to be. However, in Blume, a coastal city of considerable importance in Shattercrown, there were too many 'special' people, so focusing on just one of them was a waste of time.
Blume was a melting pot of diversity, attracting people from all over the world. It was common to see people from the Savage Continent chatting with people from the Eastern Continent while shopping at a stall set up by someone from the Iron Continent.
Non-human creatures swarmed the streets in perfect harmony, without any hint of strangeness. Yes, many people were more than they appeared to be. However, Séraphine trusted her instincts; after all, she was a witch.
As a precaution, she memorized the clown's appearance. Perhaps because of the long eye contact, the man sensed something and turned his gaze toward Séraphine. They looked into each other's eyes.
At that moment, the world seemed to stand still. Séraphine's pupils flashed as if she were about to activate her visual ability, but she refrained. Why scrutinize someone who hadn't done anything to her or asked for it?
It would only offend them if they sensed it. After all, her Deep Vision was truly intrusive. Even a normal person would feel uncomfortable being exposed to it. She simply looked away as she got closer to her detective agency.
However, the clown just looked at her with a completely serious expression, without the smile characteristic of his profession. His eyes were a strange shade of gray, as if he had glaucoma, yet he could see perfectly well.
He stopped looking at the witch and began inflating a balloon since a little girl had asked him to make a dog with it. After all, he was a clown.
It was just something that happened on the street, something people usually forgot about quickly, something that didn't interrupt anyone's rhythm, much less theirs, as they had things to do.
Thus, this event remained just another curiosity of the day. The girls entered Séraphine's establishment. For Francisca, it was her first time there, so she was curious about the layout.
"It's nicely decorated. Minimalist. Not my style, but I feel comfortable here," said the redhead after seeing how simple yet welcoming the agency's lobby was.
"It has that touch of some hotels and office buildings, right?" That's what I thought when I first came here!" commented Élodie before approaching the reception desk, which was unoccupied at that moment.
"I don't like crowded, complicated places. I prefer to keep everything clear. Why would I fill the lobby with unnecessary things? All you need are a few comfortable seats to make waiting more pleasant and pots of plants and flowers for decoration, along with the reception desk.
I've seen places that put fountains, statues, paintings, and all sorts of other weird, unnecessary things in their lobbies. I have to admit... I copied the design from my dad's building." When Séraphine talked about her father, she pursed her lips in annoyance.
"Right, your last name is Rohan. How did someone with that last name end up in Blume as a detective and supernatural consultant?" asked Francisca. She sat down on one of the soft pieces of furniture in the lobby and crossed her legs as she waited for a response from the brunette.
"That's what I've been wondering. Aren't they a super-rich family from the capital city? They say they were part of the nobility when it existed. Doesn't that mean we should call you 'Lady' and make exaggerated gestures when talking to you?" Élodie said with a laugh and made exaggerated gestures, acting as if she were being polite to a noble.
Then she sat down next to Francisca and settled Sasha on her head. The fairy seemed to enjoy watching the humans talk, so she remained silent, making little sparks jump from her fingers.
"Hmm, you're not the first to ask me that kind of question. Even that bastard Howard Stone asked me that, if you remember. The answer is actually quite simple.
I want to stand on my own two feet! My parents are very rich and influential. For that reason, anything I achieve while living with them would be 'because I'm a Rohan' and not because of my own abilities.
I want to be known for my abilities, not the diamond-encrusted silver spoon I was born with," Séraphine replied, exuding both exasperation and determination.
"That sounds good, but I saw how you pursed your lips when you talked about your father. Do you get along with them?" asked Élodie, who had been paying attention to the brunette and had noticed that small facial expression.
"I was going to ask you the same thing. I don't doubt your motives, but it seems like there's something else going on here. Did they try to marry you off to someone you didn't want to marry, and did you run away here to avoid it?" Francisca joked and laughed at this question, but she soon fell silent when she saw the cold look in the witch's eyes.
"They didn't try to marry me off to anyone. A guy wanted me to marry his son to supposedly build a better relationship between our families, though. However, my parents don't depend on those kinds of alliances to prosper.
My complaint with them is that I grew up practically alone. They were very little involved in my life. My guardian was a spiritual nana, and along with my magic teacher, they were the only two important figures who saw me grow up." Séraphine said as she sat down between Élodie and Francisca.
"That's sad. What kind of parents would miss out on their daughter's upbringing?" Sasha murmured. She didn't understand complicated human societies very well, so this situation was truly unbelievable to her.
"Although I'm annoyed with them for that, I can understand them. They're not just influential people with a lot of money, you know? My mother is an alchemist who works on important projects for the military.
My father is a warrior, businessman, and military contractor. Some of the weapons or equipment you used were probably created by one of my father's companies." Séraphine looked at Élodie as she finished speaking, making the blonde think.
"Wow! But I still agree with Sasha. No matter how busy someone is, they should make time for their children. My father was often away, but he always played with my dolls when I asked him to," recalled Élodie, a warm smile spreading across her face.
"Do you think you're doing well?" Francisca asked Séraphine. The witch looked at her hands before putting her arms around her two companions' necks and pulling them close.
"Well, I have two girls in my arms. Isn't that doing well? Jokes aside, yes, I'm doing well," she said, seeing the expressions on the two women's faces at her joke. The witch had to respond sincerely.
"I'm well known in Blume, one of the most important cities in the country. I earn a lot of money. I can buy all the model ships I want. Isn't that doing well?" Séraphine murmured with a big smile on her face.
"Of course I've done well!" she concluded. For some reason, she felt that her parents would be proud of her if they knew about her situation.
Even though she had spent very little time with them, they had shown her that they cared about her. They always sent her letters, and although she was still upset with them for spending so little time with her while she was growing up, she didn't hate them. She truly loved them.
Not because they were her parents, but because they never neglected her. Her mother summoned the Spiritual Nanny, her father introduced her to Lady Osmond, and they protected her from the darker side of high society.
They weren't the best parents, but they tried hard to provide for their daughter, and that's what really matters. Wanting to share more about them, she began to recount the few moments she had shared with them that she cherished deeply.
𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝𑄝
Today was the first day that the trio of women and fairies was going to start performing tasks. Séraphine chose one of the simplest pending cases, which she could handle with relative ease. That was why she had postponed it until now.
The group was in the witch's office, each doing something different. While Séraphine worked, she noticed that Élodie was looking curiously at a skull on her bookshelf. She had noticed it the other day but hadn't paid much attention to it until now.
In contrast, Sasha acted directly, sticking the upper half of her body into one of the skull's empty eye sockets. However, she soon got bored and flew away, landing on Francisca's head.
The redhead was holding the prototype of the Dragon's Eye that she had given to Séraphine as a distraction, so Séraphine wouldn't be interested in the casino she ran. She believed that, to be friends with the witch, she shouldn't let her touch gambling.
"Did this thing work for you?" the alchemist asked, touching the metal casing of the alchemical work with her index fingernail. Séraphine, who had her head down while sitting behind her desk reading a folder she had taken out of her filing cabinet, looked up before answering.
"Oh? Yes! I even transcribed the results it gave me. Interestingly, though, something like this can explore even superficial details of the soul and mind. However, I don't trust those numbers.
I'm no expert, but I'd say the capabilities of the human body can't be measured by rigid statistics. Still, it's a useful reference, though not something to take too seriously," Séraphine commented on her conclusions after using the device. The redhead nodded.
"You're right about that. Of course, if I were to create a more detailed, technical version, it would be the perfect tool for doctors or anyone interested in a clearer reference of their condition. However, clinging to the statistics it provides would be a mistake.
I created it with the idea that 'people are treasures too' in mind, which is why I named it the Dragon's Eye. I'm interested in your results. Can you show them to me?" Francisca asked. The witch opened one of the drawers in her desk, took out a folded sheet of paper stored inside, and handed it to the redhead.
"Oh? Can you tell me what you're talking about?" Drawn in by the conversation between the two women, Élodie stood behind the redhead and read the piece of paper, which caught her attention.
"From what I understand, the alchemical device in Francisca's hands can scan your data and display it as written on the sheet." Sasha may have been a fairy who didn't know much about human society, but she wasn't foolish, or she wouldn't have survived this long.
From what she had heard of the conversation between the two women and the clear example in the redhead's hands, she could quickly guess the true purpose of the machine, which did indeed look like an enlarged eye.
It wasn't that difficult to understand, but since she had been lost in her thoughts, she was confused when she came to her senses, which is why she asked that question.
An expression of surprise blossomed on the warrior's face as she carefully read Séraphine's test results, taking an interest in some particularly striking points.
According to these statistics, Séraphine's perception was quite high and seemed to be approaching the two-point milestone, which, in this context, seemed significant.
And Séraphine was cursed! She never thought an ability could also be considered a curse, something that should be achieved through practice or as a result of certain circumstances.
She knew Séraphine had a special visual ability. After all, Séraphine wasn't blind or absent-minded. She could see the unnatural gleam in Séraphine's eyes when she used her ability, and she could feel a strange sensation coming from her when she entered that state. It was as if the mere act of looking at her was momentous.
"Hey, Séraphine, do you really have a curse?" Élodie asked quietly. When she finished, the room was filled with a deathly silence.
Without looking up, Séraphine simply activated her Deep Vision. The layers of reality lost meaning before her gaze, and her green eyes emitted an attractive yet sinister emerald glow.
"Yes, but in a few months, the curse will be broken. Until then, I must bear this incomprehensible burden," whispered the witch before deactivating her ability. Just then, a black arm with rotten scales slowly emerged from the desk, intending to touch her face.
Fortunately, Séraphine's words did not last long, so she did not have to take action to avoid the touch of that hand. However, only she could see this creepy scene.
No one else present could experience what she had to suffer because of the curse's attacks, which made her experience terrifying scenarios every time.
"I still remember when you came to me with a recipe clearly prescribed by an alchemist from my country. It was capable of alleviating the discomfort of the curse. To think that I will soon be without your generous payments." To lighten the mood, Francisca joked, causing Séraphine to break her serious expression and burst out laughing.
"Vampire! Master Xu didn't charge as much as you do," the witch replied, grinding her teeth despite her laughter. She couldn't stop thinking about how expensive those pills were.
For someone who loved money, that was torture! However, she understood the reason behind Élodie's question. She could discern her tone of concern, so she mentally thanked her for the joke, which lightened the previous atmosphere.
"Élodie, you must have seen those special cameras that photograph things related to the spiritual world. They're one of the most widely used pieces of investigative and forensic equipment by police.
The principle behind them is based on my curse. It not only harms me but also allows me to see beyond what any mortal should be able to see. They allow me to scrutinize the immaterial, observe things from the spiritual world, and glimpse a reality that only the owner of this ability understands.
Inspired by this curse, alchemists created these cameras. Although they can only photograph things related to the spiritual world or subjects related to specters, they are incapable of going any 'deeper,' so to speak." Séraphine emphasized the term 'deeper,' the perfect adjective to describe the limits and capabilities of her special vision.
"Oh, no wonder your ability always seemed familiar to me. I've used those cameras in the police and the army. I don't have as extensive knowledge of the spiritual world as you do, but I have dealt with evil ghosts.
But, Séraphine, what do you mean by glimpsing a reality that no one understands? Is there something else besides the real world and the spiritual world?" Élodie asked again, realizing that the brunette wasn't angry with her.
"Well..." Séraphine let out a long sigh and placed her fingers on the bridge of her nose. She was searching for the right way to express her answer.
With your mind still developing, you were unable to process what you saw. With your innocence intact, you saw something you shouldn't have. You have been cursed with a sweet exterior and a bitter interior. Your eyes can now glimpse what others fear to touch. You must endure seven years to master this gift.
That's what my mentor, Lady Osmond, told me when she found out what had happened. This curse also gives you a special ability. It's a test of your psyche. If I resist, I'll be able to make this gift my own. Séraphine began rubbing her temples, much to the dismay of her friends, who didn't understand why these simple words affected her so much.
The witch was starting to get a headache. After all, talking about this subject was, in a way, taboo in the most literal sense. She didn't want to endure the influence of the things she could see, nor did she want to spread it to others unnecessarily, so she had to choose her words carefully.
"Is there anything besides our reality and the spiritual world? Yes, there is. Those who know of its existence consider it to be something like a mezzanine: a special dimension beneath the veil of our reality.
Together with the spiritual world, it surrounds our environment with three layers, so to speak." When she reached this point, everything around her began to shake. Only she could see and feel it because she was already accustomed to such phenomena.
Her curse was about to strike again! Even with her eyes closed, a hint of emerald light seeped through her eyelids, alerting Élodie and Francisca that her ability was being activated.
"These are creatures stranger than those in the spiritual world. They seem to be born from human imagination, dreams, and nightmares. The world twists into incomprehensible geometry: whispers, screams, lights, and smells. Everything is wrong, everything is upside down, and everything is chaotic.
It is incomprehensible; little can be truly understood. Some things are impossible to describe, and those that can be described are so common that they could simply pass for something you might find elsewhere." Séraphine felt something soft and slimy caressing her cheek, so she opened her eyes.
She saw that it was a creature with just a big, toothy mouth covered in tentacles that had licked her. The brunette grimaced in disgust and shook herself, hitting the creature hard and pushing it against her bookshelf. Black arms made of ink came out of the bookshelf and caught the creature that had touched her, tearing it apart completely.
For Séraphine, this was what she did and saw. But for Élodie, Sasha, and Francisca, the brunette was just waving her arms in the air. There was no change in reality. It was just her acting as if she had hit something tangible.
"Is there something there?" the blonde asked, on high alert and gripping the handle of her war hammer. She was ready to take action.
Francisca, who already knew about this curse, remained calm. However, her red eyes focused on the brunette, assessing her condition. She wasn't very interested in the things Séraphine could see, but she was concerned about her physical and mental state.
The witch, who didn't want to look at her friends, kept her head down and watched as the expensive wooden floor of her office transformed into small piles of dirt.
"For me, if there was something; for you, no. I must look crazy right now, right?" That's how people with this curse were treated in the past. Their records were confusing, their actions were strange, and their words were unbelievable because no one could experience what they could," Séraphine said with a mocking tone, but the three women could discern the reluctance in her words.
"Even the much-acclaimed 'World of Dreams,' based on my own experiences, is nothing more than the place where those three realities converge slightly, which is why people who have been to that place experience peculiar things." At that moment, Séraphine saw the bookshelf finish off the tentacled creature. He separated his arms from his body, creating a pool of ink on the floor.
"Without a doubt, the worst thing is the subtle influence they exert on the minds of the conscious and capable. It's as if their existence itself emanates this influence, affecting you in various ways. If it weren't for my willpower, I would have gone mad, joined a cult, or killed myself," the witch said, clicking her tongue as she reached this point. She briefly recalled a dark moment in her past, but quickly let it go because the ink puddle kept changing.
Now, it had transformed into a small humanoid figure that ran toward Séraphine's legs. Instead of coming into contact with her, however, it simply raised its head and observed the witch with its large golden eyes.
"From what I have been able to understand, they probably use an extraordinary energy like us. This energy has a warm feeling. Spiritual energy is cold, and ether is hot.
In that regard, the energy used in these three realities is essentially the same, only adapted to the dimension. The subtle differences require a name for a clear definition." As Séraphine said this, the hand of the little entity made of ink was covered with a yellow glow, as if giving the witch a demonstration.
"It's a dangerous place. The things there can drive anyone without adequate mental resistance mad. But, like the spiritual world, there are creatures with whom one can communicate. Isn't that right, Musu?" The witch looked to the side where Musu, the cat, was lying, waving her tail carefree.
Meanwhile, the ink creature returned to the bookshelf and disappeared into it, just as it had appeared, without a trace. This brought a smile to Séraphine's face because she already knew that little guy, and he seemed to get smarter every time she saw him.
"Uh, I think I've strayed from the subject. It seems I left something out, but believe me, I tried my best to express myself in that environment. However, a confusing explanation might be fitting for a description of the mezzanine of reality.
The curse will be lifted, and I will soon be able to completely master my vision. The one good thing I can say about all this, except for the Deep Vision, is that it has improved my mental resistance. That's why it shows up in the statistics displayed by the Dragon's Eye.
The manifestations of the curse serve as a kind of training for me. This makes dealing with them from time to time more enjoyable, and incidentally, it makes Francisca rich with my medicines." With that, she finished, and her eyes stopped emitting that faint but sinister green glow.
Perhaps it was because of the presence of the ink boy and Musu, but except for the tentacle mouth that licked her cheek, she did not have an unpleasant encounter, unlike in previous episodes. However, it left her with a terrible headache, so she quickly reached into her hat for the pills she needed.
"Oh, so it's a really dangerous place. It doesn't matter. I'll do my best to protect and help you," said Élodie, patting her chest with confidence. Even this enthusiasm affected Séraphine, who smiled after swallowing her medicine.
"Today's payment is one more step toward your future freedom, Séraph. I'll miss your Aureum," Francisca added mockingly. The brunette rolled her eyes, not wanting to delve into the subject.
"Let me give you some comfort." Sasha flew to Séraphine's desk and threw some of the fairy dust she had just created at her.
When it fell onto the witch's body, she didn't feel much except her muscles relaxing. This made her think about how many people use this substance, but as if guessing her thoughts, the fairy spoke.
"I haven't done anything strange to you! I've only activated the substance's inherent properties; this is one of its intended uses. Humans force this characteristic, causing many problems in the long run," Sasha explained, her annoyance obvious.
After all, members of her species were exploited to produce this compound for recreational use, which degraded something special into a crude drug.
"Thank you. Although the medicine helps, it takes time to take effect," Séraphine said, thanking her heartily. She had a task to perform soon, so it wasn't a good idea to be stressed.
"By the way, have you tried the Dragon's Eye? Those statistics aren't important to us, but it's an interesting device, don't you think?" Séraphine suggested, trying to steer the conversation in a more playful direction.
"I want to be first! Come on, let me use it." Élodie was undoubtedly the first to step forward. She had been curious about it and wanted to see how it would evaluate her alchemical work.
"Okay, you have to use it like this..." As the creator of the device, Francisca knew exactly how to explain its use. Soon, the warrior was able to see the data that the Dragon Eye had obtained from her when it scanned her.
[ÉLODIE DUVAL'S STATUS]
[Vitality: 1.7]
[Aether: 1.4]
[Aether Control: 1.3]
[Lucidity: 1.5]
[Perception: 1.4]
[Applied Intelligence: 1.2]
[Charisma: 1.2]
[Reflexes: 1.8]
[Physical Strength: 1.9]
[GENERAL STATUS]
[Corruption: 0.0 (stable)]
[Current Health: 1.0 (Stable)]
[Tendency: Focused Attack.]
[Affinity: Aether Empowerment.]
[KEY SKILLS]
[Iron Will (Passive)]
[Fortitude (Resistant to Physical Damage)]
[Intuitive (Passive)]
"Look! My physical strength is almost at two points!" Élodie said proudly, looking at the screen projected by the machine.
"Remember, though, that this is only a reference. These values can fluctuate greatly, not to mention the improvement the aether brings," Francisca replied. But her words could not dampen the blonde's enthusiasm. She made an effort to memorize everything shown to her.
"As I suspected, you're a dumb blonde," Séraphine commented after reviewing the warrior's results. This caused her to puff out her cheeks.
"At least I have these delicious muscles!" The green shirt she was wearing showed off her toned abdomen. When she patted her belly, her friends took notice.
"Hehe, I'm not denying it. I just said that I could confirm that you are indeed silly," the witch continued teasing, causing the blonde to blush.
"I'll read a lot! Not just the books you lent me, but also scientific journals and such," replied the warrior, causing the group to laugh at her behavior. Deep down, however, they agreed with her, since reading was important, even fairies recognized this fact.
"Are you evaluating me? I want to see what this contraption has to say about me!" After laughing, Sasha flew over and sat on Élodie's shoulder. However, the redhead shook her head when she heard her words.
"I'm sorry, but don't you know that fairies and dragons are mortal enemies? I made it by emulating dragons' ability to evaluate treasures. Even though I don't want to accept it, a certain mysticism was necessary for its creation.
So, if it scans you, the Dragon's Eye may explode. Believe me, I've tried it several times. That's why I don't like the mystical side of alchemy." Francisca pursed her lips when she said that, clearly disgusted by the result, which she detested greatly.
"Oh... It's not like I want to play with something called 'Dragon'!" Sasha growled, crossing her arms and waving her feet in the air.
"Hey, Francisca, have you scanned yourself? I'd like to know your results!" Élodie's question prompted the alchemist to nod.
"Yes, but it's faster to scan me again than to write all that down, so let me show you." The redhead took the Dragon Eye floating in the air, used it to scan herself, and projected her statistics.
[FRANCISCA ZHANG'S STATUS]
[Vitality: 0.90]
[Aether: 1.8]
[Aether Control: 1.9]
[Lucidity: 1.6]
[Perception: 1.5]
[Applied Intelligence: 1.7]
[Charisma: 1.4]
[Reflexes: 1.2]
[Physical Strength: 0.85]
[GENERAL STATUS]
[Corruption: 0.0 (stable)]
[Current Health: 0.95 (Stable)]
[Tendency: Creation of objects.]
[Affinity: Aether Alchemy.]
[KEY SKILLS]
[Inspiration (Passive)]
[Detail-oriented (You hate shoddy work)]
[Materialistic (You understand the materials you use)]
"You're much softer than I thought," said Élodie after finishing her reading, causing a vein to pop out on Francisca's forehead.
"I'm an alchemist! A researcher! I don't need defined muscles like you," the redhead replied somewhat defensively.
"Wow, it looks like Élodie pushed a button there," Séraphine added, causing Francisca to stick out her tongue childishly.
"No, you misunderstood," the alchemist replied, though it was obvious she was stung by the words. Élodie approached her and patted her on the head.
Due to the obvious height difference, with Francisca measuring 1.70 meters, 10 centimeters shorter than Séraphine and 12 centimeters shorter than the warrior, this scene was particularly comical, causing them to laugh loudly again.
"Come on, don't get upset," said Élodie with a big smile, while Francisca narrowed her eyes and stared at the warrior before clicking her tongue.
"Well," the redhead shrugged, resigned.
Thus began the first day of the four women working together, amid laughter, deep conversations, and a gradually strengthening friendship.