The Beginning
Familiar
The Vaguely Recognized
- Location
- Washington
A low murmur permeates the expansive waiting room, none of the occupants willing to raise their voices beyond the minimum necessary to be heard by their nearest neighbors. The air is thick with tension, saturated by emotions that bleed off of their postures and expressions. There is little in common among the crowd. The hues of their hair run the whole spectrum of colors. Ages range everywhere where from early teens to mid twenties. Their eyes betray a variety of sentiments; anxiety, excitement, boredom, madness, terror, determination. There is only one trait held by all—each and every person present is a Magical Girl.
A grid of large screens along one wall flicker to life, and the low conversations peter off into total silence. The monitors altogether act as one to display a singular scene. A spotlight illuminates a stone throne that rests against an enormous pillar, the surrounding area obscured by darkness. Floating before the throne is a young woman with platinum blonde hair and molten gold eyes.
Expression placid, she begins speaking without delay. "As of this moment, there is no turning back." She raises her left hand and snaps her fingers. Immediately, the doors of the waiting room crumble to dust, leaving only blank stretches of wall in their place. "Not that I imagine any of you would, by this point. All of you came to stand here today for your own reasons. Desperation. Greed. Bloodlust. Ego. Coercion." She flicks her hand as if swatting away the line of thought. "In the end, it doesn't matter anymore. You are now in, and the only way out…" Again she snaps here fingers, but this time a single door pushes itself out of the ground, standing free in the center of the room, "…is through."
On the screens, the girl drifts back and lands sitting on the throne. Her legs cross, and she leans to rest her head on her right hand. "There are no true rules as you proceed. However, that is not to say that some actions will not have consequences." The spotlight widens its focus, and the darkness recedes just enough to reveal one more subject. Partially hidden by the pillar, a hulking beast can be seen resting against it, shoulders rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. Even sitting as it is, it towers double the full height of the girl on the throne.
"Test my patience as much as you please, so long as you are prepared. A small list will be provided." The light recedes back to its original position. Her bored expression lightens up a little, eyes lightly glowing and lips curling up into a small smile. "Like my father, I take great joy in seeing firsthand humanity's warriors pushed beyond the limits of their abilities and skills. I am Magical Girl Labyrinthine. Welcome to my maze." The screens turn black.
The door in the center of the room opens and, despite conventional logic, two nondescript men in suits step out. One carries a stack of papers, the other a clipboard. As the door closes itself behind them the man with the clipboard speaks out, "I will now call forward the first four participants. When your moniker is called, please come forward and step through the door. My companion has informational sheets; any who wish for one may take one at their leisure. As you wait to be called, you are encouraged to watch the live footage that will be displayed on the monitors. Refreshments will arrive shortly."
He flips the cover page on his clip board, and begins to read. "First, Magical Girl—"
A grid of large screens along one wall flicker to life, and the low conversations peter off into total silence. The monitors altogether act as one to display a singular scene. A spotlight illuminates a stone throne that rests against an enormous pillar, the surrounding area obscured by darkness. Floating before the throne is a young woman with platinum blonde hair and molten gold eyes.
Expression placid, she begins speaking without delay. "As of this moment, there is no turning back." She raises her left hand and snaps her fingers. Immediately, the doors of the waiting room crumble to dust, leaving only blank stretches of wall in their place. "Not that I imagine any of you would, by this point. All of you came to stand here today for your own reasons. Desperation. Greed. Bloodlust. Ego. Coercion." She flicks her hand as if swatting away the line of thought. "In the end, it doesn't matter anymore. You are now in, and the only way out…" Again she snaps here fingers, but this time a single door pushes itself out of the ground, standing free in the center of the room, "…is through."
On the screens, the girl drifts back and lands sitting on the throne. Her legs cross, and she leans to rest her head on her right hand. "There are no true rules as you proceed. However, that is not to say that some actions will not have consequences." The spotlight widens its focus, and the darkness recedes just enough to reveal one more subject. Partially hidden by the pillar, a hulking beast can be seen resting against it, shoulders rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. Even sitting as it is, it towers double the full height of the girl on the throne.
"Test my patience as much as you please, so long as you are prepared. A small list will be provided." The light recedes back to its original position. Her bored expression lightens up a little, eyes lightly glowing and lips curling up into a small smile. "Like my father, I take great joy in seeing firsthand humanity's warriors pushed beyond the limits of their abilities and skills. I am Magical Girl Labyrinthine. Welcome to my maze." The screens turn black.
The door in the center of the room opens and, despite conventional logic, two nondescript men in suits step out. One carries a stack of papers, the other a clipboard. As the door closes itself behind them the man with the clipboard speaks out, "I will now call forward the first four participants. When your moniker is called, please come forward and step through the door. My companion has informational sheets; any who wish for one may take one at their leisure. As you wait to be called, you are encouraged to watch the live footage that will be displayed on the monitors. Refreshments will arrive shortly."
He flips the cover page on his clip board, and begins to read. "First, Magical Girl—"
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