March 13
Kazamino city
Kyubey had hit the jackpot. When selecting Magical Girl candidates there are a handful of metrics used, raw potential, their personality, their circumstances and their connections. All of these play a role in how likely a girl is to accept their deal and how much Kyubey is likely to get out of the contract.
Luckily, Kyubey had just found someone that met all of the criteria absolutely perfectly. Kagami Shado, an orphan living in Kazamino. She doesn't go to school and goes to various fighting tournaments to get money. Fencing, Kendo, Martial Arts, any way she can make money off combat she takes full advantage of. Given her apparent love of combat, convincing her to battle witches should be no problem. Not to mention her magical potential is incredible, about as much as a Princess back when they were still relatively common.
Right now she was on her way back to her apartment from such a tournament, she locked the door behind her as she entered of course, but that was hardly an issue as it was a simple matter to simply teleport inside.
Kagami had just entered her cheap apartment and was still hanging up her hoodie when Kyubey teleported in, just out of view.
Hello Kagami.
To her credit, Kagami didn't flinch. Odd, telepathy tends to be quite a surprise to the uninitiated. Kagami was quickly able to locate Kyubey on the floor, tail swishing to look as cute as possible.
"What do you want."
She almost sounded bored. Like there was nothing strange at all about a telepathic alien breaking into your house.
My name is Kyubey! I've come to ask you for a favor. I'd like you to make a contract with me and become a magical girl!
Hearing that, her jaw hung slightly opened for several seconds. Afterwards she just shook her head and seemed to suppress a laugh.
"Magical girl? Really!? That seems a bit silly."
It's true! I have the power to transform you into a magical girl! All you have to do is make a wish, I'll grant the wish and then you'll be turned into a magical girl.
"Alright fine I'll bite. Lets say all of this is true, what do you get out of this exactly?"
As a magical girl, it will be your duty to hunt monsters known as Witches. Terrible creatures that feed on the vulnerable, many mysterious deaths around the world are caused by Witches and as such they need to be stopped. That's where you come in, magical girls have special powers that allow them to fight Witches.
"What kind of powers?"
That varies from person to person. But all magical girls have some level of super strength and faster healing. And while transformed you get a special weapon suited specifically to you.
"And just where are these witches exactly?"
Another oddity, most people ask WHAT they are before WHERE they are.
They hide in labyrinths of their own creation. When hunting humans they lure their prey in and trap them there before killing them. Once you've contracted with me you will receive a soul gem, which will help guide you towards these labyrinths.
She subtly frowned on hearing the word "soul gem". But didn't comment on it.
"So are YOU able to locate these labyrinths?"
Kyubey was absolutely capable of doing this. They have used that ability several times to lure potentials into a labyrinth in order to force a contract.
I am, but I would still recommend using your soul gem to locate witches, as I cannot always be available and your soul gem would be sufficient.
"Excellent. Then show me one of these witches. I want to see one for myself."
That gave Kyubey pause, only someone suicidal would willingly enter a witch labyrinth without being a magical girl or being with a magical girl. It was just asking to get themselves killed. But there wasn't much reason to point this out, after all it would be easy to convince them to contract once their life was on the line.
Very well then, I can do that. When would you like to go?
"In just a second."
She walked into another room. The apartment was small, so other than the main entrance they were standing in there was only a kitchen and a bedroom. Kyubey followed her into the bedroom and saw a shelf full of trophies on one of the walls. On the opposite side however was a sword mounted on a wall, a rapier, alongside it's sheath, both of which Kagami removed and strapped around her waist with the sword sticking out to the side from her back. There wasn't much chance of this being meaningful, an ordinary sword would simply snap under the strength of a typical witch and would offer very little protection given how fast their attacks are. At best it might be able to harm a familiar.
"I'm ready."
-----
Under Kyubey's direction, the two managed to find themselves inside of a witch's labyrinth fairly quickly. It was very similar to a jungle, except the trees were all the wrong color and there was no sky, making the entire place very dark. There was SOME light, but only because a few of the plants were glowing an ominous purple. A path was cutting across the treeline, presumably it would lead to the witch.
Just say the word and I'll make you a magical girl, you'll be able to take out this labyrinth's witch no problem if you do.
"Noted"
And with that she pressed on, walking slowly and keeping an eye out for danger. It wasn't long before the first few familiars showed up, mish-mash's of various animals with color pallets selected almost at random. Kagami immediately drew her sword, ready to intercept any attackers, but otherwise continued walking.
You aren't thinking that sword of yours is enough to take out the witch are you? I'd hate for you to get yourself killed because of that.
"I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing."
The familiar closest to the path, a blue tiger with lion paws and large eagle wings, decided now as the time to strike, and pounced. However before it could hit Kagami she jumped out of the way, transitioning into a lunge the second she landed. With her fast movement she was able to hit the familiar as it was landing with a clean stab. By the time the familiar could turn to face her new location, she had already pulled out her sword and was preforming her next attack, this time a swing which cut it's head in half, killing it for good.
Well that was certainly impressive. Kyubey thought for sure that she would at least be injured by now, while familiars are nothing to a magical girl they are still a serious threat to a normal human.
The rest of the familiars went in after their fallen brethren, unfortunately for them Kagami was ready and effortlessly dodged their attacks. Ducking and weaving between them while getting attacks in during the brief moments between their strikes she was able to dispatch all of the familiars that were attacking her fairly quickly. If Kyubey could feel they would have called the event beautiful. She didn't even seem to be winded at all.
It wasn't long before she reached with witch's lair. A clearing with a large plant monster, it's roots sticking out of the ground as dangerous thorny vines. The entire creature was moving as Kagami was watching from outside the arena.
I was serious earlier Kagami. You need to make a contract with me if you want to win this fight. Just make a wish, any wish!
She simply smirked, and confidently leaped towards the witch. The monster easily countered her charge with a wall of vines easily more than twice her height. A split seconds before the vines reached her, she jumped straight over the wall, cutting straight through the top half of the wall at the same time by spinning in mid-air with her sword.
What
That is not supposed to be possible without magic. Unlike the familiars which were made of flesh, those vines are made of solid wood. You can't just cut through that with a rapier even under ideal circumstances. How is the rapier not broken? Thinking back, Kyubey realized that the sword hasn't even been bending at all. Normally rapiers have to be able to bend a lot in order to avoid snapping due to their thin blades, but this one remained perfectly stiff. There was no way that was a normal sword, not to mention jumping over twice your own height in a single bound is usually a feat restricted to those with magical powers. Just how is she able to do these tricks?
From there she simply got in close and started cutting it apart, piece by piece, turning the fight into a battle of attrition. Before too long the witch was completely dismantled and the labyrinth faded away, leaving only the witch's grief seed behind. Noticing it Kagami picked it up and inspected it closely.
"What is this?"
It's a grief seed. Magical girls use them to recharge their magic.
"Wait, are you saying they HAVE to use grief seeds to recharge their magic? Or do you just mean a seed will speed up the process?"
Grief seeds are the only method of recharging magic that I am aware of.
"I see"
She started to head back home.
So now that you've seen a Witch will you make a contract?
"Is there any way we can skip the magical girl part and just have you grant the wish without any additional effects?"
I'm afraid that's impossible.
"Then no deal. Are you sure you don't have any alternative offers you could give me?"
Kyubey did not.
I'll see what I can do.
"Excellent. I'll see you around then."
And with that, they parted ways.
