Libra's Lament, a Magical Girl Quest [Complete]

You snap around to look at Kusakabe, the other girl's eyes small in fright. Despite of her fear however, she came back for you.

That is...

With shaking legs and a numb feeling in your stomach, you nod at her and get moving; the older girl quickly shuffles out of the room and towards the main doors; no one else is around by this point, everyone having run off.

A moment before you reach the door yourself though, a shadow falls over Kusakabe and the monster lands right on her, crushing the girl into paste. A short scream is her only reaction to the weight before she becomes silent and the heat makes her blood waft up as steam.

You quickly stop and rush to the side, hiding behind a wall and hoping that it could not sense you with its back turned. Every heartbeat echoes incredibly loud in your mind, followed by the beat of magic. The thought of getting up and fighting the abomination comes to mind, but some part of you already knows you would not stand a chance.

There is some shuffling outside while hot air blows into the building, bringing the scent of ash and copper with it. A few growling noises before heavy steps sound, slowly growing more quiet; you count, one, two, three...

Somewhere at a hundred, the beast stops and does something to the sound of breaking stones.

An even less loud thump tells you that it most likely jumped; very carefully, you peek out of the door and look around.

It is not there, the only thing right in front of the door being the charred and pulped remains of your class rep. The pavement further down the road is cracked and a growing inferno crackles out of sight. A faint taste of smoke mixed with copper, reminiscent of the monster you previously killed...

You can feel your stomach revulsing, but also the magic soothing it far enough to not spill over; the girl that died right in front of you is left behind as you pass her, trying your best not to look back.

There are screams in the distance, drowned out by a loud roar.

You have to flee. Fighting is meaningless, if you can manage to stay alive until the army appears... but what about your parents? What about your family?

No... even if you went to help, people would blame the misfortune on you, no matter if you had anything to do with it or not. And on top of that... this is a chance. If you leave now, people will think you died in the attack. Your parents will be safe from accusations... and safe from you, on top of that.

...

Slow, reluctant steps ring out, your boots clacking on the pavement with finality.

This is it. Your mundane life is over... and for what? Because you are a Magical Girl now...

Tap.
Tap.
Tap.

Despite it all, your feet carry you further. Despite the wetness that blurs your vision and the fire filling the air with heat.


No one stopped you as you went; there was no one there to do it. Everyone had either run towards or away from the monster, whatever it was.

On reflection, maybe you should have wondered what exactly those creatures were a little earlier. You never saw them before. The zombies you met at least made sense because their creator was iconic... but the only other summoner you know about is Magical Girl Spring's Dream.

Even though you know all of these girls are bad, you somehow doubt that someone with such an uplifting name could summon something more horrifying than Magical Girl Nightmare Child, who is known around the world for being the worst of the worst.

But again, what was that? Where did it come from and why did it come to your commune of all places?

Well, not like you are going to find out anytime soon...

But where to go now?

You pause and look at the trees surrounding you; a forest is where you are currently at, although you have no idea which one. Not that it matters much.

Taking a deep and shuddery breath, you shake your head and sit down on a fallen tree nearby; the leaves are rustling and a few birds chirp above.

If you go towards China, you will have to move through the Tokyo and Kanegawa prefectures; this might be the fastest way to the sea overall. The other routes lead towards Hokkaido in the north, or Fukuoka at the western end of the peninsula. All three are viable, mostly because you will have to cross the sea either way; Fukuoka is an important harbour and holds quite a few trade vessels, so sneaking in there might work.

On the other hand, that might bring you to Australia, another 'island', when you want to leave Japan to have more room to maneuver.

Maybe there are others like me?

The thought comes uninvited, but the notion does make sense; you had luck to not have been found, so maybe others were lucky as well? You are all cursed with this life, but being together might help make it... at least bearable.

But where to go look for them? Checking other communities is out of the question... and any girl would realise her chances were higher in the wilderness, despite everything. Even you knew, somewhere deep down, that you had to leave eventually.

At last, you do turn back; smoke is still rising in the distance, colouring the evening sky a greyish orange. Your home, your family, your... friends. All left behind...

You can feel your eyes sting again, but quickly turn back forward again.
Maybe you can find other girls wandering around, or take a look at abandoned cities while you travel towards the sea. Maybe someone was there...

Your old life is now over... and another is about to begin. You clench your fists and take another deep breath.

Maybe you can make it a good life.

---

[] Settle down to rest and find something to eat

[] Walk some more, it is better to get some more distance between you and the village

[] Transform and hurry up, just go through the night


+10xp End of Prologue

10 EXP gained, 10 EXP total
Shop not available yet


About 5k words sounds good, so this is where a legend's story really starts. Too bad this is not your character; you will meet her again later on.

The building begins to shake violently and you quickly grab your sister's hand in fear, dropping the bag you were holding onto. Rico does the same and you cling to each other for a moment before she lets go and pulls you along. "Come on, we have to get out of here!"

You just wanted to scavenge a bit... there were still so many unchecked buildings and afternoons were so boring once you did your homework.

Your mother even allowed the two of you to go scavenging alone today.

So what is happening here? Old buildings do not just start shaking!

You quickly shake off the thoughts and hold on to Rico's hand; your light steps echo through the abandoned building. From the second floor down to the first and into the main hall...

You run into your sister the moment she stops dead in her tracks, almost running her over; a quiet umph is her only reaction and you can see why.

There is something standing there, walls around it dented outwards and breaking.

It looks around on glowing blue eyes, five by your count, that freely wander over its marble-like body. That... thing has eight legs that end in terribly sharp claws, it looks like a spider.
But it has no face.

And it is at least twice as big as you!

You can only stare as the monster slowly turns your way, a sixth eye appearing from below the body and focussing on Rico and you. It stares for a moment, then one of the spindly legs rises... then another... and the claws clack on the ground. It comes closer!

As if bitten by something, Rico screeches in fear and pulls you along again, your own numbness breaking with her reaction. You get moving, back to the doorframe you just walked through and up the staircase. The ground cracks when the monster jumps, smashing through concrete as it does; you wimper as rubble hits your back, but it does not hurt much. You just continue running after your sister; she never let go of your hand.

There are crushing sounds from behind you as Rico rushes onwards, but you already know you can not run that way; there is only so much of the building and the way you flee from was the only way out.

But there are windows.

You quickly look back for a moment and find the monster pushing itself around the corner; it has trouble walking properly with how wide its legs are... and it casually destroys the walls at some points to get more freedom of movement.

You quickly look around and then tug at Rico's hand; your sister slows and looks back to you, her long hair bobbing to the sides from the sudden movement, eyes wide. Then you quickly pull her to the side instead of to another set of stairs, towards the nearest window.

"Eva, what-" "Out of here, Rico!"

She stops and takes a few deep breaths while you quickly reach up and slide the window open. Your own heart beats very quickly and the two of you pant heavily.

Rico goes first, you help her climb over the windowsill by pushing from below. Then she pulls you upwards.

Only that you are on the second floor. The ground is...

The monster crushing its way up towards you stops you from hesitating; you smile encouragingly at your sister and climb down the windowsill, as does she right next to you.

There is no wall to hold onto further down, so you let go the moment the spider breaks through the window next to you. A shriek from you and Rico as you fall, burning pain in your leg for a moment as you land... and your sister screams in pain.

You quickly turn your head to where Rico is clutching her ankle with tears in her eyes and look back at the monster that turns to come after you again.

You want to run away so badly, can feel wetness roll down your legs and just stand frozen in fear.

Then something within you snaps, some weird pulse starts beating, and you turn back to your sibling, quickly scooping her up in your arms with strength you never knew you had. You stumble and almost fall on your first step, but then quickly manage to take up momentum.

Towards the inhabited part of the city, to home... you run as fast as you can, not looking back.
The only thing you hear over your heavy heartbeat is the cracking of concrete behind you. Rico holds on for dear life, wimpering in pain and fear.

You do not know how much time passed since your flight started, but you do not care either way. The two of you have been playing in these streets for years, so you know which ways to go and where the path is blocked.

One, two, three junctions, turn. You come closer to home and safety. One, two... uh... oops.

You missed one and took a wrong turn, running into a blocked street; as you quickly skid to a halt however, your wet shoes slip on the concrete and you fall, taking your sister with you.

Impacting with the ground hurts and you shriek in pain as you already moist legs begin to burn all over, as do your arms. Rico whimpers again and rolls away from you, the two of you exchanging fearful glances.

Then the monster turns around the corner.

You can see it from where you lie and quickly get back to your feet, but your sister is already crawling away and towards the rubble blocking the street.
It is your only path left...

You take after Rico and help her standing, then support her as you make your way over. Maybe there is something left, a doorway or a small hole to slip through... you can't climb over the pile, not with your sister hurt like that.


But there is nothing.


As you reach the rubble, you find that there is no way around. You are cornered, alone... is this the end?

A hand slips around yours and squeezes tight, making you look up even thought your vision blurs from tears. Rico has some rolling down her cheeks as well, but she gently wipes yours away and hugs you close.

"It will be fine, Eva. Just... just..."

Her voice breaks and you both know it will not.
No one will come help you and your mommy will be sad again.

"I don't want that... I..."

The pulsing you have been feeling in your chest grows stronger, igniting something you had no idea was there. Something clicks in your mind and the monster stops in wonder as you can feel power resonate within you.

But there is more than just power. And more than just you. Rico has started shining brilliantly and where your fingers are intertwined, the light pools together and becomes white.

You do not want to die here. You want to live, to grow up and make people happy!
Rico wants to grow up, too! She wants to get strong and help others!

In synch, you open your eyes widely and proclaim to the world:

""I am the radiance of the future, I am the custodian of all. I am Magical Girl Primordial Sun / Moon""

When the light dies down, you find that both of you have changed. Rico's hair became pink while Eva's is now blue, both cut to the same length and matching. Your eyes took on the colour of the respective other's mane and you are clad in tight, white bodysuits with fitting gloves and long... can you call it kneesocks when they are made of metal?

Either way, you turn your gazes back towards the monster; it feels a little slower now, for some reason, even though it still walks towards you.

But with this, you think you can do something. Instinct has Rico lift her staff, a mirror to your own, and point it at your enemy.

"Take that, you monster! Scorching Sunlight!"

(Scorching Sunlight: +40 Base Damage, +6 Dice, +10 Wants to live = 56 Total Ddamage
Forgotten Crawler: +80 Base Resilience, +10 Dice = 90 Total Damage Reduction

0 Final End Damage)

A bright beam of light races out from the tip of Rico's scepter, about as thick as one of your fingers. It uselessly pings off the spider's bright surface, but at least the creature stops for a moment due to the light.

Eva uses the moment to act on her own instinct and point her scepter at you.

"Soothing Moonlight!"

(Soothing Moonlight: +36 Base Heal, +15 Dice = 51 Total Health Restored
Primordial Sun Health: 82 + 51 = 100)

You glow for a moment within your bluish light and feel the stinging pain in your ankle subside. Wait, you cast that on Rico and... huh?

Your sister looks as confused as you, but there is no time to think about this; the spider comes closer and jumps at you, making the two of you scatter in different directions.

(Forgotten Crawler: +250 Base Damage, +9 Dice, -50 Testing the Waters, -100 Confused, -80 Which One Do I Attack?! = 29 Total Damage
Primordial Moon: +5 Base Resilience, +4 Dice, +5 Quick Reaction, +5 Small Target = 19 Total Damage Reduction

10 Final End Damage

Primordial Moon Health: 100 - 10 = 90)

A sharp claw rips through your bodysuit and cuts open your side as you leap, making you yelp over the sharp pain. Rico already got to her feet and is running around the spider that turns after her; you use the moment and get up as well, then run around its other side and join your sister in the middle of the street.

The power from within flows freely as you scamper out of the blocked path and slowly realise what happened.

You are Magical Girls. And that is not good. If someone sees you...

In a panic, you force whatever this is down on instinct; the light around you dies down... no wait, you are still transformed. Rico detransformed, though.

Shaking your head, you quickly do the same and then continue running; the gash in your side burns horribly, but you do not care. You are a big girl, you can bear it.

And then, as you are still fleeing for who knows how long already, you can hear the familiar staccato of guns.

(Soldier 1, Full Auto: +150 Base Damage, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, no dice = 300 Total Damage
Soldier 2, Full Auto: +150 Base Damage, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, +30 Full Auto, no dice = 300 Total Damage

The thought only makes you cry harder, desperately holding onto your sister. You are only ten years old... what can you do?!

---

[X] Cry more
-[] Then go home and make sure your mother knows you are okay
-[] Wait for your mother to pick you up

[] Ask the soldier if the monster is gone

[] Write-in

[] EXP Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it


+20xp No One Gets Left Behind (only Eva)
+10xp Met Your First Forgotten
+30xp Survived Meeting a Forgotten Crawler
+50xp No One Noticed You Awaken as a Magical Girl
+10xp You Can Outrun Death
+10xp Together forever

EXP gained: 110 + 130 = 240
EXP Total: 250


(Unlocked Character Sheet: Magical Girl Primordial Sun!)
(Unlocked Character Sheet: Magical Girl Primordial Moon!)
(Unlocked New Mechanic: The Shop)
(Unlocked New Shop Items for Primordial Sun)
(Unlocked New Shop Items for Primordial Moon)
(Unlocked Additional Data: Base Mechanics of this Quest!)


Surprise, you have two protagonists!
That means they get twice the experience, but their EXP pool is also joined; if you wanted, you could just upgrade one of them with the whole pool. I can not recommend this, but it is an option.

You can find everything you just unlocked on the first page.
By the way, I am not really happy that I did not find any pictures of their weapons.