Chapter 47 - Take Things One Step At A Time
Questions can come later. Right now, it falls on you to give answers as opposed to receiving them.
"That's the mark of an old company I worked at once," you exposit to a frightened Madoka. "They were supposed to have fallen, and even if the Corporation were active it'd be odd for Mami and Sayaka to have anything related to it. You said Homura had one as well?"
Madoka nods, her body still shaking. On her shoulder, Kyubey waits passively for you to continue.
"I'm glad you told me about this. Keep an eye out for anything else strange that you spot, even if you think it might be nothing. Better to be cautious about these things," you say sternly. Madoka's shaking ceases, and she gives you a resolved nod.
"Anyways, we should catch up with the others. Safety in numbers and all that."
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You and your tag-along make the easy trek through Clarise's Barrier, having torn open the entrance to follow Mami and Sayaka. The pair has clearly made short work of the inhabitants that once lived here, with not a single Familiar remaining amongst the great glass spires that peak from the ocean of pale green clouds beneath you. Honestly, you're a bit worried to have them having gone ahead without you. They couldn't have gotten that far in while you and Madoka were talking, could they?
You follow the trail of shattered glass and the sound of gunshots, occasionally picking up Madoka to leap from one of the glass towers to another. She yelps in surprise the first time and clutches close to you and you soar through the air, her legs shaking as you set her back down.
"Ah… could you warn me next time, X?"
As the pinkette steadies herself against a shattered glass pillar, careful not to cut herself on the broken edges, you allow yourself a small grin. Fair enough, although she's gonna need to be a bit more assertive if she's serious about involving herself in this conflict.
True to your word, you do make sure to warn her next time.
"Up."
"Wait, does that mean-"
You do not, in fact, interrupt her and make the jump while she's still speaking. Instead, the interruption comes from a gold-clad shape crashing through the opposing tower's wall, skidding across the fragile floor, and conjuring three rifles out of nowhere to fire at the enormous rusted copper cockroach that leaps down after her. You pull Madoka away and behind you as Clarise crashes into the ground, antenna lashing out at Mami as she dodges back. She gives you a wink and retreats further, drawing the Rampant Witch away from you. A second later, Sayaka crashes to the ground beside you and leaves a small crater in the weak floor. Seems she hasn't quite mastered that skill yet.
"Sayaka!"
Madoka calls out, seeing the large gash across Sayaka's face. It's already healing, but slowly. She's expending too much of her Magic enhancing Mami for her own powers to work at full strength, then.
"Don't worry, it's just a scratch. Isn't this Barrier creepy?" Sayaka attempts to divert the topic, but a transparent attempt like that isn't going to do anything. Luckily for her, you have other topics to discuss. The admonishment will have to stay to a minimum now.
"Don't disregard your own health, Sayaka. People can't help you if you don't let them." As she looks away from you, you continue. "Anyways, I heard you've got some sort of card. Can I see it?"
Sayaka gives you a puzzled look, as if she doesn't know what you're talking about. All of a sudden, it dawns on her. "Oh, you mean my employment card! Yeah, here you go." Casually, as if the act is completely normal, the kid reaches towards the spot above her heart and grabs ahold of nothing. When she opens her hand, a plain card sits in her hand. She hands it to you, and you bring the anomalous object up to your face to look closer.
Your grip tightens, although the offending object remains stubbornly undamaged. It's an exact replica of the badges once held by your employees, although the name is something illegible. Next to the Corporation's logo is a picture of Sayaka, smiling placidly against a blank background.
"When did you get this?"
Sayaka shrugs. "I dunno. It's been… a day, or so? It just showed up this morning."
"And you don't find anything odd about this?"
"Why would I? It's my card, so of course I'd have it with me," Sayaka continues, although her casual demeanor drops when she sees a worried Madoka lean over from behind you.
"I already said there's nothing to worry about!" she assures, almost frantic. "It's… I… gah, why can't I explain this?"
Your conversation is ended by the abrupt cry of "Tiro Finale!", a geyser of magically-enhanced energy piercing the sky in the distance. The Barrier closes in on itself all at once, and Mami steps into the conversation carrying Clarise's Grief Seed.
"This one should go to you as well, Sayaka. It's always good to have some reserves to fall back on."
"But I barely even did anything against that Witch!" Sayaka protests. Seeing an opportunity, you jump in.
"Supporting is an essential role in combat. It might not make the most obvious contributions, but nobody should understate your efforts. Least of all yourself."
Slowly, Sayaka nods and accepts the Grief Seed. That will probably be it for the hunts today.
There's still time to do something.
[] Press about the cards
[] Go hunting
-[] Bring somebody with you
[] Wander Mitakihara for a bit
[] Head home
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Der Freischütz's Sapling - Observation Level 0/3
A shorter chapter this time, with a totally improvised out of nowhere Witch.
You can fit in the Press vote alongside any other activity, but two of the others at once won't work.
