It was hard for Momohime to believe that her life could change so suddenly. Yet in the blink of an eye, the things that she used to take for granted had been stripped away from her. To be quite honest, the former office worker wasn't sure how to process it. Luckily, she had someone to express her emotions for her.
"We're free!" Chika proclaimed over the phone for the fifth time in the past three minutes. "You hear that Momohime?! Freedom! WHEEEE!"
"I know, I know." Momohime replied with an awkward smile. "It was only a matter of time, really."
With all the constant media attention that was being hounded on her old workplace, it's darkness was quickly exposed to the light. For days, the news had been filled with a constant stream of testimonials. It wasn't long before the company's name had suffocated in the mud. After all, even if the horrible work culture it participated in wasn't anything unique to them, nobody likes to see a black stain on their clothing. And it wasn't like it was a particularly large company either. Faced with the constant battering ram, eventually the dam broke and it did the one thing it could do - Go broke.
"Ah, I feel so refreshed!" Chika exclaimed with a breath of relief. "I've gotten a full night's rest for several days in a row!! Days! And those bastards were even forced to give severance pay as well! Not having to work at all is bliss~!"
"I-Is that so?" The mousy woman replied with nervous laughter. "I've been busy so I haven't been able to relax."
"What?!" Momohime had to pull the phone away from her ear as Chika roared. "Who're the bastards forcing you to suffer?! You deserve this vacation just as much as I do!"
"Oh! No! It's nothing like that, really!" She spoke quickly. "This is something I've chosen to take on myself."
"You trying to find a new apartment or something?" Her friend replied casually. "I can help you out if you want. I have so much free time now I don't even know what to do with it! In fact, we definitely need to meet up sometime soon! Treat ourselves for surviving that hell. Have a girl's day out, you know?"
"Well, um, hopefully my schedule clears up soon!" Momohime cheered, though her voice wasn't really into it. "The thing is…"
There was a sound of deep silence as Chika processed her response. "...Are you serious? You're trying to get another job?! Momohime, you aren't a workaholic right?!"
"I wish I was. Then this might be bearable... " She muttered to herself before shaking her head. Now, how to put this without saying anything about the Night World. "But it's not really anything like a full time job, really! It's more like I'm trying to get my government license in order to practice it? I'll probably still be working closely with the government but I'm honestly not sure about employment status."
"I dunno, this sounds pretty sketchy to me." Chika responded. "If you insist you can go through with it but if they ever start mistreating you, call me up right away! I have power now! No matter who they are, I'll expose their evil schemes and rescue you from danger!"
"Chika!" Momohime whined. "I'm not that helpless… Really!"
"If you say so~" Her friend intoned in a sing-song voice, causing the mousy woman to make an offended noise. The two former office ladies paused before sharing a laugh. Soon however, Chika's laughter died down as she began to speak in a wistful tone. "A job huh… You're right, I should be putting some thought into my career from here. But whenever I think about working the only thing that comes to my mind is, well, that."
That. That suffocating office. That power abusing boss. That slave-driving workload. That stale, stagnating company that gave off the stench of death and decay.
"I wonder what would've happened if I didn't have you with me Momohime. If I had just been there all by myself." Chika continued on as Momohime closely listened. "Or even if I had just continued on like that, wasting my life away. A slave in all but name. It was basically a miracle that we got out of there really, but at the same time it only happened because someone else snapped first. I'm sure that under different circumstances, I could've ended up just like Satoshi-"
"Sahou." The princess interrupted. "His name is Sahou Rokuki."
"Right, yeah, that's what the news said wasn't it?" Her friend sighed. "I'm just so used to calling him Satoshi that I hadn't even realized…"
No one else had. No one else had ever reached out to him. They were all too busy looking out for their own survival.
"I think you'll be fine." Momohime declared calmly. "Sahou was all alone, but he was also scared. Scared of getting hurt. He kept making excuses and that's what pushed him to act the way he did. I think that as long as you can push back that fear of yours, you can shine bright Chika."
The other woman was silent for a time. Finally, she spoke up again, though the black haired woman couldn't see her on the other end of the line, Momohime knew Chika well enough to tell when she was smiling. "Thanks. Really. But when did you become so wise?"
"U-Um! That's…" When she had awoken as a magical girl and begun fighting enemies unseen by the rest of society. "Let's just say that I had a strange encounter with a tree?"
"Ho ho! Playing Coy I see." Chika playfully replied. "Well, I'll leave it be for now, but one day you have to give me the full story!"
Momohime fidgeted. "I don't think you'd really believe me…"
"Hey, if you can believe in me, then I can believe in you. What goes around comes around, am I right?" The other woman laughed. "Yeah, I can feel my heartbeat pumping! I'm gonna strike while the iron is hot and get to work on my future! This time, nothing's gonna stop me from doing what I want! You take care too, alright Momohime?"
"Yeah, you too Chika." Momohime smiled before the line went dead. Slowly, the aspiring exorcist turned around back towards the shrine behind her.
The waters of the lake seemingly rippled as her reflection was replaced by that of Demon Blades. "She seemed nice."
"She's one of the kindest people I know." Not that it was a particularly high bar. "Though I'm worried she might go and do something reckless. She sounded a bit, um, drunk on life."
"The only blade we have to worry about right now is ours." The magical girl declared as she gave her counterpart a look. "Break time's over."
"Right." Momohime nodded before muttering under her breath. "Here we go again…"
Let's turn the clock back a few days.
The week before had been, quite frankly, hell for Momohime. A familiar hell, but hell nonetheless.
With absolutely no time to waste, the aspiring exorcist had quickly found herself plunged into the murky depths of the Night World. Her chosen field of specialization had Kongiku lecturing her from sunrise to sunset. It had gotten to the point where Momohime had spent nights sleeping at the shrine instead of her own apartment. Though contrary to the slave driving company she had worked at before, the exhaustion reminded the former office lady of her hazy memories of school.
This wasn't even mentioning the things that Kongiku had her do outside of her specialization.
"Well, congratulations Momohime." The kitsune smiled as she placed an envelope on the table. "Your application to take the Exorcist Exam has been approved."
"Yay." The young woman exhaustedly muttered as she slumped over, not even bothering to reach for the letter.
Yes, what her benefactor had neglected to mention was that the Exorcist Exam actually had a pre-test application to actually be able to participate in the main exam. The qualification for which was obvious in hindsight but still put Momohime through the ringer. Because of course someone who exorcised Youkai from the weighted world at the behest of the government would have to know about the laws in place.
"How did so many of these laws even get through into our legislature?" The black haired woman complained as she put a hand to her head. "Wouldn't someone have said something? This is all legal right?"
"Of course it's legal. The bills properly passed through parliament after all." Kongiku smiled serenely. "Whether those not connected to the night world noticed them, however, is a different story."
...Momohime decided to ignore the admission that these laws might as well have been written in invisible ink.
"Moving along." Orange robes furled as the fox lady clapped her hands. "With this, I can proudly say that you've passed the first part of this supplementary class. I was a bit worried at first, but you turned out to be a surprisingly quick learner. It was honestly quite a pleasure to teach you."
"Um, thank you very much?" The young woman nervously laughed. "T-Though not to be rude but your teaching method is a bit…"
"Unorthodox?" Kongiku giggled. "True, true. But this was the technique devised by our founder and leader. It works quite well at getting those not accustomed to the night world into the right mind set."
Momohime glanced at the textbooks sitting next to her. They were, coincidence or not, two of the books she had been given when she first wet her feet in the nightworld. The Ministry of Japan's Official Guide to the Night World, 2e and it's sister book, So You've Just Contracted A Youkai? Things You Should Know. Both of which, as it turned out, had to be read at the same time. Simultaneously. Otherwise the first book made no sense but held crucial information, while the second book made a lot of sense but didn't include what she needed to know.
"This all seems a bit overly complex." Her headache worsened as she just thought about it. "Couldn't you have just spelled it out for me to read?"
"Perhaps." The kitsune answered vaguely. The tone of her voice had become one that was familiar to Momohime. One that signified that she had entered another one of the beauty's tests. "But can you tell me just why it was written this way?"
The aspiring exorcist nodded before beginning to think. That was the first rule of surviving the night world. Never ever take anything at surface value. After all- "The Night World is obscured behind layers of metaphor and symbolism. Even when contracted with those of the weighted world, Youkai still speak in this strange manner. I think this is what the second book refers to as the Yokai Dialect?"
At Kongiku's nod, Momohime continued. "In order to properly convey the Night World, the first book is written entirely in this dialect. But because it's so obscure, the second book is written as a guide that one needs to cross reference with the first book. This slowly teaches the readers how to better understand the Youkai Dialect and the way the night world operates. Um, am I correct?"
"Perfectly spot on." The kitsune nodded, a smile blossoming on her face. "I think that we can now go over to the main part of your training, Hougi."
"Right!" Energy instantly shot through the young woman's veins as she jumped, sitting perfectly straight. "That's the Arts Demon Blade uses, right?"
"Yes and no." Kongiku replied. "Hougi, the Secret Arts, is less of a 'power' per say, but more the manipulation of… Hm, I believe that the best way to explain it to you would be to first bring up what separates it from Mahou. After all, you are both a Mahou and a Hougi user. Tell me, do you feel anything different when you use both powers?"
"Anything different?" The black haired woman blinked before putting a hand to her cheek and tilting her head. "Well Demon Blade is the one who really understands how the power works…"
"Correct." Momohime nearly jumped when she heard her own voice speaking in her head. "I am an existence of Mahou in a weightless world. Just speaking my name can tear many of it's pages asunder. However, I put aside that aspect of my existence."
"Put aside?"
"It would be more accurate to say that I neglected it." Demon Blade elaborated. "It was easy, since there wasn't much magic that I could perform anyways. So I focused my aim on the Arts, for the sake of completing my blade. That night when I first walked the Weighted World was the first time I had ever used the Magical side of my Girlish existence. Considering the things that you have experienced, I'm sure you're also qualified to answer this question."
"The things that I have experienced huh?" The fromer office lady asked herself as she thought back to that first week. The only thing that really stood out to her was- "Ah!"
Kongiku remained silent as Momohime quickly began to babble. "Whenever I go to sleep and find myself at the shrine my form is just a ball of fire until I declare who I am! But when Demon Blade users her ability to enter people's minds, for some reason I feel super stable!"
"Yes, that's an excellent example." Her fox ears twitched as her tail began to waggle. "The analogy most often associated with Mahou is construction. Something that I find to be quite apt. Mahou users all have affinities in their souls. When utilizing magic, Mahou users gather in energy and then use their affinities as the structure and foundation in order to use their spells. Even their runes and circles are ultimately just another way of taking energy and crafting it into their desired phenomenon. It is, in essence, a very solid power. One that is both supported and, of course, natural."
"Hougi however, is not an act of creation." The kitsune declared with a wave of her hands. "It is a skill, yes. It is a technique, yes. But most importantly, it is an Art. It is the act of painting using reality as your canvas. To turn simple lines into a greater depth. When those with a connection to the realm beyond the horizon use it to cause phenomena in reality, that is what we refer to as Hougi."
The beauty paused to take a sip of her tea before continuing. "If Mahou literally creates Phenomenon, then Hougi metaphorically causes it. No, in this case, it would be more of a simile then a metaphor."
"I… See?" Momohime let out before she ultimately slumped and glanced away. "Actually… No, I um, I don't. It still sounds like magic to me."
"Yes, it is usually hard for beginners to understand the difference at first." Kongiku consoled her. "After all, to your eyes, you can see what looks like the fantastical occurring right in front of you. Now that your body has grown accustomed to it, the fog of the Night World has begun to obscure your vision. In order to properly utilize Hougi, you must learn to see past your own eyes. Which is what you've been practicing for the past week, right?"
"Oh!" Momohime suddenly exclaimed as she glanced at the books.
With a chuckle, the kitsune reached under the table before placing an unlit candle on to the table. "Now, I'm going to demonstrate the usage of Hougi in a way you should be able to understand. Watch carefully, alright?"
The beauty took in a deep breath before waving her hands above the candle. Under her breath, she chanted something Momohime couldn't hear. It was on the third pass around, when the candle was obscured from the aspiring exorcist's vision, something happened. Almost as if the young woman had blinked and missed it, Momohime suddenly found herself staring at a candle that had been fully lit. A bright green flame burning atop it's wick.
"There." Kongiku declared proudly. "Now, stick your finger in the fire."
"...Excuse me what?" Momohime asked as she leaned back. "I-I must have misheard you."
"Oh is that so? Then I shall repeat, stick your finger in the fire."
The aspiring exorcist reeled. "Seriously?!"
"I assure you that it's perfectly safe." The kitsune placated. "Now, stick your finger in the fire."
Did she have to repeat it like that every time?!
"A-Alright…" Momohime hesitantly lifted her hand before slowly beginning to approach the blaze. Grimacing, the young woman took the plunge and shoved a finger right into its core. Seconds passed as she waited for the pain to come. Only… "Huh?"
"You can see it now right?" Kongiku asked as she began to stroke the flame. "That the fire lighting this candle isn't real."
"It doesn't burn." Her eyes widened as she began to examine the candle closer. "The wick isn't burning, the wax isn't melting. I don't even feel any heat coming from the fire."
"And for the final step," The foxy beauty reached into her bountiful kimono before pulling out a pair of glassless frames. With a smile, she handed them to Momohime. "Please put these on. They'll allow you to see clearly."
"See clearly?" The black haired woman parroted before slowly dawning the frames. Suddenly, as if merely an illusion, both Kongiku and the flame on the candle vanished. "Woah!"
"Don't worry, I'm still here." The vixen's voice rang clear in her ears. "These Frames have been enchanted using Mahou. Many would find it to be a useless device but for those connected to the Night World, it allows one to gain the perspective of those whose visions aren't clouded. As a manifestation of Hougi myself, naturally I'd disappear from view. But please, focus your attention on the candle."
Momohime's eyes glanced back to the now unlit candle on the table. For a moment, she wondered just what it was she was looking for before she realized it. "It's still glowing?!"
"Quite so. As if the candle was lit, we bask in it's glow." She heard Kongiku intone. The former office lady yelped as suddenly, the candle was lifted off the table by something she couldn't see. "And as if someone was there, the candle began to move on its own. Ah, you can take off the frames now."
The aspiring exorcist quickly took off the glasses only to find Kongiku holding the candle, an amused smile on her face. Momohime gave her a look. "That's not funny!"
"Oh don't pout." Kongiku struggled to contain her giggles. Pout? Who was pouting?! Momohime didn't pout! "You see now what I mean right? Hougi users paint over reality with metaphors in order to cause phenomena to happen. But in the end, we're still restricted to the 'likes' and 'as'. That is to say, like Youkai contracts, Arts need a specific object in the weighted world for the technique to hold. We call this the 'anchor'."
"Now for Youkai contractors like Yon." The fox in question lifted her head upon hearing her name. Momohime watched as it trotted over to the table before plopping it's head down upon her lap. "Your first Art is something that the Youkai gives you as part of the contract. Typically it's anchored in the users themselves. For example, the Savage Bloodlust of the Amanojaku user. 'As if his rage was contagious, his spirit polluted the world around him. Or the Withered Bloom of the Jubokko 'Like a mighty tree, he stood steadfast'. Though I will admit that you are a… special case. I've never heard of someone starting with two Arts before."
"Three." Demon Blade corrected, though only Momohime could hear her. "I've created three blade arts during my travels."
Momohime quickly relayed the magical girl's words, causing Kongiku nod thoughtfully. "I see. All of her Arts were something she devised herself? That's… unusual."
"Is there something wrong with creating Arts?" The young woman asked.
Kongiku chuckled. "No, no. Like I said, just unusual. For a Youkai Contractor that is. But the night world is wide, and there exist those who have no contract and focus their efforts on perfecting their Arts instead. In a sense, Demon Blade seems to be more like them than your average Contractor. The ones who we call the Onmyouji."
The kitsune paused before suddenly her eyes widened. "Ah, I see now. So that's what she means by seeking 'Inspiration'. Yes, this is an excellent time to move into the second part of Hougi."
With a swirl of her fingers, the fire on the flame began to flicker. "Unlike the practitioners of Mahou, Hougi users aren't limited to the Affinities in their souls. As long as one has the understanding of a concept, one can utilize it in their art. They are the ink to the anchor's paint brush. This well of colors that can be drawn from are the latter half of an Art, it's 'Attributes'. Take the candle in front of you for instance. Right now, I've only given this Art the element of 'Light' but if I were to add the 'Flame' attribute..."
Her fingers snapped, and suddenly Momohime could feel a burning heat in front of her. The smell of smoke filled her nose as melting wax hit the basin with a splotch. "Only now does it correlate to the phenomena of 'a lit candle'."
Kongiku waved her hands, snuffing the candle out. "It sounds quite simple no? But the truth is, having enough understanding to truly comprehend an attribute is quite a difficult task. Many spend days, weeks, months, and sometimes even years studying one specific element. More often than not though, it comes simply from life experience. This is what Demon Blade seeks when she wants inspiration. Although a more accurate word for it would be 'Enlightenment'."
Though she couldn't see it, the aspiring exorcist could feel her counterpart nod her head silently.
"Youkai however, are made up of attributes." The kitsune continued. "Sometimes, you may find, there is very little difference between an Art and a Youkai. I am like a painting, my body composed of many different colors in order to give the illusion of the being known as 'Kongiku'. Most humans also have an unconscious understanding of attributes, which forms their personality. By gaining a connection to the Night World, your memories, your thoughts, you become the paint that fills your palette."
Yon gave a tired sigh before rolling over on Momohime's legs. Idly, the aspiring exorcist began to stroke the fox's fur, and she responded in turn by snuggling up to her. An exhausted smile appeared on Kongiku's face. "And of course, there's the backlash. In the world of ever shifting tides, there's little holding one back from painting the medium. The weighted world however, has a disdain for such a fluid power. To cause a phenomenon without constructing something is unnatural. One has to push against the world itself to dye it in their colors. For simple Hougi like what I displayed, the cost of such is physical exhaustion. But the works which can properly be called Arts take a toll on their users' health."
"In our case, the Muramasa Blade is the one taking the brunt of it." Demon Blade grunted. "The mixing of Hougi and Mahou cause it to become unstable. Too much of this, and it shatters."
"...H-Honestly this is a lot to take in all at once?" Momohime replied, scratching her cheek. "I think it's going to give me a headache if I think about it too much."
"Well, intuitive understanding will become instinct with time." Kongiku smiled. "And of course, the clock is striking now. From this moment onwards, you're going to be spending the rest of the week learning how to cast Arts."
"Eh?!" The aspiring exorcist exclaimed. "Now?! Already!?"
"But of course. After all, you have one major weakness." The kitsune pointed at Momohime, looking her dead in the eye with all due seriousness. "You've been talking to Demon Blade throughout this conversation, am I right? And when Demon Blade takes over, you're still conscious. But during that time, you can't speak, am I right?"
"That's, that's right." The aspiring exorcist nodded. "Demon Blade has control over my entire body. I can't really do anything when she's active. Is… that bad?"
"In certain situations, it could be fatal." Kongiku declared. "For instance, if you figure something out and need to tell someone, you have to first tell Demon Blade and have her relay the message. During hectic and tense moments, this delay could cause injury, death, or even something much worse. Simply put, your inability to act is a major burden. Luckily, it also coincides with the basics of all Arts. It is what allows me to be here in this very room with you even though I don't exist. The projection of the self."
Standing up, a fox tail trailed behind the woman as she moved a mirror over to the room. "Now, I believe from what you say that Demon Blade already has a good understanding of the principle-"
"I've figured it out." The magical girl in question interrupted as she took Momohime's place in the reflection. Both of the women in the weighted world jumped as her voice entered the room. "No, to be more accurate, I've figured out a variant of it. But I feel very little need to project myself into the waking world. Right now, being the other side of the mirror is enough to satisfy me."
"Hm…" Kongiku muttered as she leaned in closer to the mirror. "So you're the magical girl in question. It's a pleasure to meet you, Magical Girl Demon Blade."
"A pleasure." She nodded in response. "But I do believe that the one who you should be focusing on is Momohime and not myself."
"Yes!" The kitsune nodded before turning over to Demon Blade's other side. "Momohime, for the next week you will learn how to project yourself into the weighted world in one form or another. Failure is not an option."
Kongiku's eyes narrowed and Momohime felt a shiver go down her spine. "If you fail to do so then I will revoke your right to take the exorcist exam. Do you understand?"
"I-It's a bit sudden but I understand." Suddenly every second seemed to tick against the aspiring exorcist's skin. "But, um, I don't really know where to start?"
"That is not a problem." The fox lady smiled as she glanced at Demon Blade in the mirror. "I'm your teacher, and I'll help to guide you through this. A unique situation requires a unique method, after all. For starters, I have an idea that requires Demon Blade's cooperation to implement..."
Now, the present.
Tick tock.
Sitting in a dark room was a certain woman in a Kimono. Her eyes were closed, her body sitting perfectly still as she sat in seiza. Fragrances of incense entered her nose as she breathed in deeply. The Muramasa Blade sat on the floor, it's bloodlust sealed behind several talismans. In this moment, Magical Girl Demon Blade was the embodiment of serenity.
Momohime, the girl inside her, was a different story.
"AH!" She screamed again as she tried once more to project herself. "C-Come on…!"
The swordswoman opened her eyes before mummering under her breath. "Not even close."
"Why…" The aspiring exorcist moaned. Ever since the day Kongiku had declared her ultimatum, this is where she had found herself spending most of her time. The training was simple in theory. While Demon Blade was in control, she would sit in this stagnant room and meditate. All Momohime had to do was project herself on to reality, and the training would be over. "But that doesn't explain how I'm supposed to do such a thing!"
"I already told you, I can't guide you." The magical girl replied. "We have the same color, but different shades. You will have to figure out a method that works for you on your own."
"But I can't figure anything out on my own!" Momohime cried. "I'm slow and dull and-"
"Calm yourself." Demon Blade instructed, not moving a muscle. "You aren't going to get anywhere if you panic."
"Right, right." Momohime took a moment to collect herself before she sighed, or she would have if she could move. "Sorry this is just… Getting to me."
Uncaring to her feelings, the clock was marching forward. She could do nothing to fight time as she was forced to sit here in this dark room. The aspiring exorcist felt a gnawing sense of anxiety form within her stomach while the rest of her cares drifted away. A prisoner to her own body, Momohime felt a sense of weightlessness. With no way to interact with the world around her, did she even qualify as being real?
"Quit that dangerous line of thought." The magical girl sniped. "If you continue to deny your own existence, you'll never go back to who you are."
"It's not like I was denying who I was." Momohime replied. "I was just, contemplating the nature of my existence at the moment. Is this what several hours of sleep paralysis feel like?"
Her counterpart merely closed her eyes. "I wouldn't know. I don't sleep. I dream."
"How do you even stand it?" The former office lady asked. "Aren't you bored sitting in this room all day?"
"...It is not like I have much time to spend in the waking world." Demon Blade shifted and Momohime was startled by the sudden sensation. "This training session has also made me aware of my own limitations."
Eight hours. That was how long each session of training had to be. Enough time for a good night's rest before the magic holding the girl together ran out, causing her to vanish back into the world of the night as if she were a mere fading dream.
"I only have one purpose. To complete the sword." The magical girl declared. "Whether I'm living a fulfilling life is not something I have to care about. That is your job. You are the heart, so you must beat."
"I'm the heart huh…" Momohime muttered before falling silent. Eventually, the two women returned to their meditation.
They made no progress that day.
It was with only two days left, that Momohime asked something out of idle curiosity.
"S-So, I've been wondering." She timidly began. "Why are you so obsessed with completing the Muramasa Blade anyways?"
Demon Blade refused to say anything for a few seconds before she ultimately spoke. "...Because I broke it."
"Huh?!" Her counterpart shouted. "You broke it?!"
"No. To be more accurate, you broke it." The swordswoman accused. "What little memories I have of the weighted world have long since faded away, but I've always held the vague impression of the night we made our contract."
"Why didn't you say so?!" Momohime exclaimed, causing Demon Blade to wince from the sudden headache. "Do you remember what our wish was?!"
"No. That's why I didn't think it was necessary." The magical girl replied. "All I remember is that whatever our wish was, it ultimately shattered the Blade into its current state. Not long after was when I became lucid in the Night World."
"Speaking of," Momohime began as she gathered courage in her stomach. "If I'm the heart, like you say, and you're also Momohime Tsukigami… What does that make you?"
"There's no answer I can give that would satisfy you. I am Magical Girl Demon Blade." Her reflection declared. "I don't bother to think of such things. It's rather pointless when I can always feel the weight of my existence."
"...But I can't." The black haired woman voiced the thoughts wiggling in the back of my head. "Surviving the youkai attacks, taking the exorcists exams, this is all only possible because of you. Because of Demon Blade. Momohime Tsukigami isn't needed, after all."
"Is that what you think?" Demon Blade asked slowly. "I suppose it only makes sense that the both of us would feel ephemeral."
"Huh?"
"Being a Magical Girl will never be able to replace being Human." The swordswoman replied cryptically. "I never can and never will be able to replace you. My name carries weight, but you are my counterbalance. Your heart is heavier than you think, Momohime."
With that, the day ended. One more day was left. The young woman could feel the gluttonous beast inside them begin to grow. Anxiety, frustration, the emotions all started to melt her from the inside out. It was only because Demon Blade was controlling her breathing did Momohime not fall victim to a panic attack.
Instead, unable to focus her mind on anything, she continued to ask herself questions.
"How did you come up with your Arts."
"I simply held an impression of a given subject and deepened my understanding before incorporating it into my blade."
"Do you have any friends?"
"I don't need to support anyone other than myself."
"Do you think Humans have a core self or are we all constantly in flux?"
Demon Blade opened her eyes. "An odd question to ask. I didn't think you were much interested in philosophy. In an age where the study of souls has become a science of its own, could you not find the answers yourself?"
"Y-Yes but… I want my own answer." Momohime replied. "The only way I'm able to answer the question is if I find it in myself but, I'm unable to come up with an answer."
"You…" The magical girl angrily sighed. "Isn't this the exact reason that you've been having trouble all week?"
Momohime's eyes would've widened if she could. "Did you figure something out!?"
"Why am I the one being enlightened here?" Demon Blade asked herself before facing her counterpart. "Did you not listen to what the kitsune said? In order to utilize Attributes, one must first have gained a deep understanding of the concept. The projection art you are trying to utilize is one that'll put Momohime Tsukigami into the weighted world. Of course you would be unable to use it if you don't understand yourself."
The words hit the aspiring exorcist like a lightning bolt. She couldn't say anything in response. "Ah…"
"You've been living in a daze for too long." The swordswoman clicked her tongue. "The attributes make up the personality of Momohime Tsukigami. Your personality is made of your memories. Your memories form your sense of self. But your haphazard life has merely formed a haphazard identity. There is nothing for you to latch on to. Your ink has run dry."
"I understand but…" Momohime was fundamentally, an empty human. Her heart had long grown numb. It felt impossible for her to suddenly set it ablaze.
"Tell me." Demon Blade pressed a hand to her chest. "Was it not because you didn't want to live like this that you decided to become an exorcist?"
Despite the numbness, her reflection's words cut into Momohime. It stung, striking directly at the raw part of her heart.
"To answer the question from earlier." The magical girl continued on. "Whether the self has a core or is constantly in flux doesn't matter. You are who you are in the moment. Who you were in the past or will be in the future doesn't matter if you can't be yourself now. An empty human will not be an empty human forever. By living life, one will naturally fill themselves up with emotions."
Momohime didn't respond. After a while, her reflection sighed before returning to her usual pose. "Ask yourself just who you are, and the answer will show itself."
The final day.
Every hour now was precious. If the aspiring exorcist didn't figure out how to project herself before the exam tonight, she wouldn't be able to take it. Her dream would end right there.
But, that wasn't what she was thinking about.
Just who was Momohime Tsukigami?
An empty human being. That's what she felt like. A few weeks ago, she'd have said that it's all she ever was.
But the memories of her encounters with the Youkai Contractors swirled in her mind. Demon had been the one to fight them off, but Momohime had been one to dive deep into their minds and follow the trail of their memories. It was her that had ordered the magical girl to exorcise their demons.
Ever since Demon Blade had entered her life, that empty human being had begun to feel alive. The embers of courage had begun to spark inside her once more.
"So then why do you want to become an exorcist?" Demon Blade asked her. "If you just wished to complete yourself, all you need to do is live your life. The numbness would naturally fade on its own with time. That's just how humans are."
"Maybe that's true. But that's not the kind of person Momohime Tsukigami is." The young woman declared. Her reflection remained silent, but she could feel it urging her to go on. "I am not unique. Maybe an extreme, but there are people like me everywhere. That's what I've learned from my encounters so far. Those Youkai Contractors who have allowed themselves to become weightless. Empty. And I… I can't allow anyone to live life like I have! I want to save them! I want to save myself!"
A stone was dropped into the lake of her heart. Ripples formed on its surface, stirring the stagnant waters. Slowly, the princess dipped her numb hand into the water. Her memories, thoughts, feelings, it soaked the hand and burned the skin with a boiling heat.
"The ink has been prepared." The magical girl declared as she closed her eyes. "My sword is my paintbrush. How about you?"
"My paintbrush is my sword."
"Then we shall ask again. Who is Momohime Tsukigami?"
There wasn't enough for a full painting. A masterpiece was asking for too much. But at the very least, she could write her name.
"This Momohime desires a life with meaning. I am no swordswoman, I'm not intoxicated with victory, but my Will is fire." The princess intoned. With a gentle hand, she scooped up the water from the lake and used it to wet her brush. Taking her pen, she began to write. "Who am I? Gaze upon this Momohime's works and you shall know. I am Momohime Tsukigami."
Demon Blade's eyes didn't open, but Momohime could see her. She glanced around the dark room before smiling. "Ah, I actually managed to do it!"
"Then, congratulatio-" Demon Blade began only to stop herself. Slowly, an amused smile appeared on her face. "It seems that things didn't go as well as you hoped."
"Eh?" The aspiring exorcist let out as she glanced through her reflection's vision. The body of Momohime Tsukigami didn't stare back at her. Like the first time she had entered the world beyond the horizon on her own, the young woman had become a spectral flame floating in the air. If she squinted, then she could see her face in the flame, but other than that her body was completely formless. "Eh?!"
"Well, for someone like you, this was probably the best we could hope for." Demon Blade ran a hand through her hair. "Though, it should certainly work for that kitsune. Regardless, now that you've accomplished the art of projection, my presence is no longer necessary. I'll take my exit now."
"Wait a minu- te?!" Momohime tried to shout, only to find herself suddenly shot back towards her own body as Demon Blade canceled the transformation. A sense of deep exhaustion ran through her as she collapsed onto the floor. Her entire body was sore, like she had pushed against something with every essence in her being. At that moment, merely existing felt indescribably heavy. Still, the reality of what had just occurred hit her, and Momohime laughed. "Demon Blade you jerk. Did you have to leave me to bear the cost on my own?"
The last of her strength was used to roll herself on to her back. Slowly she stared up at the ceiling before smiling. "I think I'm going to take a nap."
With that, Momohime Tsukigami closed her eyes and entered into a pleasant dream.
By the time that Momohime had woken up, the sun had already begun to set. It wasn't long before the time for the exam had begun to approach. With deep breaths, she tried to calm herself. Mentally preparing as best as the young woman could.
"How are you feeling?" Kongiku asked as the two women began to close up the shrine. "Hougi usage is quite exhausting, especially for a first timer."
"I'm feeling better now, really." Momohime replied before patting the pouch that now sat on her waist. "The medicine you gave me really helped."
"Don't rely on it too much." The kitsune warned her. "It's better to let your body build up stamina on its own rather than relying solely on medicine."
"Got it." The black haired woman nodded before pausing. "Hey Kongiku… Did you know what I needed to realize in order to use Arts the whole time?"
"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't." A cryptic reply came from the vixen's mouth, but the smile on her face gave the answer. "Regardless, I think the result turned out quite well. Though it did take you a bit longer than I expected. Waiting until the very last minute, you really know how to tease a lady hm?"
"D-Don't say it like that!" A burning red dyed Momohime's cheeks as she looked away.
Kongiku giggled before shutting the door close. "I'm just getting you to relax a bit. You're so tense right now. Are you having any second thoughts? Waiting until the next exam is still in the cards."
"No." The aspiring exorcist shook her head. "I'm a bit worried since I've only been preparing for two week but that's about it. This is something I have to do, so I'm going to face it head on."
"Very well." The youkai nodded. Yon quietly plotted down next to her side before giving Momohime an approving look. "Then let us be off."
Contrary to the young woman's expectations however, they didn't make a move to exit the shrine but rather to go deeper into it. The group made their way behind the building and Momohime gasped at the sight before her. Even though they were in the middle of a concrete jungle, the path behind the shrine was unmistakable that of a dirt road going through a forest trail.
"It's like we aren't even in Tokyo anymore." The former office lady said in awe as Kongiku led her forward.
"Our founder and director specializes in the attribute of 'direction'." The kitsune explained as they continued to walk. "All the shrines belonging to the PR department in the city are set up with these paths. Usually, they'd lead to our headquarters, but right now the angle was adjusted to that they'd instead go to where the exam is being held."
"Where is the headquarters anyways?" Momohime asked, staring at the trees. For some reason the leaves looked off. Like they were green, but too vivid to be reality.
"Why, it's in Tokyo but it isn't. There are many paths leading to it, but only one road to exit." The fox lady tilted her head before pausing. "Unless you mean the actual physical location of the building. It's about thirty minutes away by train, give or take. Though I hear that most of our employees enter through shrines like mine rather than take the train."
"Really? Why's that?"
"If I recall correctly from our latest workplace survey the answer was…" Kongiku tapped her chin. "'Having to pay the train fare when I can get there faster is a pain'. You should always try to save money where you can, right?"
"Oh right, money…" Momohime's face instantly paled as a realization dawned on her. "Oh, oh no."
"What's the matter?" The kitsune gave her a concerned look. "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I just, um, It just hit me what will happen if I fail this exam." The former office lady gulped. "I'll be unemployed for the next six months."
She wasn't some young kid who could just do what they wanted while letting their family take care of them. Momohime was a respectable adult who had to pay for things like food and rent. The money she had saved up so far could probably last her the duration… Maybe… About three months? One?
"I can't fail this." Momohime declared, fire burning in her eyes. "I absolutely, without a doubt, can not fail this."
"I'm glad you understand the importance of the secular world." Kongiku giggled. The black haired woman glared at her benefactor. It wasn't funny. "That kind of attitude will serve you well as an exorcist."
"Are you sure you can't tell me anything about the test?" The aspiring exorcist asked. "Even just a little hint?"
"Sorry, but that's something I cannot divulge. Just trust in your skills, and you should know what to do." The kitsune paused before exclaiming. "Ah, there is one thing I can tell you though."
"What's that-" Momohime let out, only to bump into someone. "Oh I'm sorry- Huh?"
Her eyes glanced at the person she just ran into only to shiver as she realized that it wasn't even a human being. It was merely a black silhouette that even turned to face her as it phased through the former office lady's body. A chill ran down Momohime's neck as her head quickly glanced around her surroundings. The forest had faded, once more they were back in the city, but it wasn't the Tokyo that she knew.
There wasn't any human in sight. Merely a sea of the black silhouettes, all walking down the streets with a blank stare. She couldn't read any of the signs, the letters had been replaced with sprawled scribbles with heavily distorted pictures. The cold night air caressed her skin and the scent of steel and smoke filled her nose.
"Shocking isn't it?" Kongiku replied. "The only thing I can say is that we've almost arrived. The meeting place is just up ahead."
With wide eyes, the aspiring exorcist slowly nodded as she continued to walk down the streets of the distorted city. It wasn't until they took a turn did Momohime realize just where exactly they were. A massive series of crosswalks lied before her, devoid of the people who usually filled the plaza. From here, she could see the train station, a familiar dog statue, and of course, the towering building with the words '109' blazing into the air.
"Shibuya?!" Momohime couldn't help but exclaim. "But, but we were nowhere near Shibuya!"
"Shh." Her kitsune guide placed a finger to her lips. "That's something that'll be explained soon. Let's meet up with the main group now, alright?"
Standing in the center of the plaza was a group of kitsunes dressed in a kimono like her guide's. They chatted amongst themselves as they formed a crescent. Kongiku quickly moved to take her place in the formation as Momohime followed her. Next to each of them was a group of about 35 other people of all ages and genders. It took Momohime a few seconds to realize just who exactly they were. Some were glancing around the place in wonder, others kept themselves busy.
The other examines.
"If it isn't Kongiku~!" The kitsune next to her guide, and just as beautiful, smiled as they exchanged greetings before she turned to look at the mousy woman. "And this must be the so-called magical girl that you mentioned before."
"It's not so called." Kongiku replied coyly. "She really is a Mahou user."
"Well if she is, I'd prefer if she kept that weight to herself. I'm a delicate maiden, you know?" The other kitsune joked. "I'm already exhausted as is having to deal with my candidate. He's a good kid but a bit… much sometimes. High schoolers, you know?"
"I've had the pleasure of not having to deal with any of those myself yet." Momohime's benefactor scowled. "Personally, I'm not a fan of involving kids in our problem. A seed needs soil to grow. Grains of sand will not serve as an adequate substitute. It is only when they've bloomed should we admire their beauty."
"We are farmers, not gardeners. And starving ones at that." The aspiring exorcist's eyes widened as she quickly realized the kitsune had fallen into the Youkai Dialect. "But at the very least, our crops grow better than some others I could name. Haven't you heard the news? You aren't the only one to bring in a unique examinee."
"Oh?" Kongiku raised an eyebrow. "Do go on."
"There's a Hanyou among us tonight." Momohime blinked as Kongiku let out a gasp. "Quite the skilled swimmer, if what the crows say is true. Apparently those dawdling fools down in Kawasaki couldn't properly test her so she's taking the Tokyo exam. And the less said about those brainless harlots from Ginza the better. Really, what were they thinking? Bringing in a-"
A gong resounded throughout the street, causing the two kitsune to fall silent before standing up straight. Kongiku turned to glance back at Momohime before whispering. "It's starting."
There was no grand declaration. It was merely a woman walking out from the 109 building to meet the group. The only thing that really signified her entrance was the howling of the wind. Still, despite this, there was something about her that drew everyone's gaze. As if she was just meant to be there.
The woman in question was similar to the kitsune that stood next to her as attendants. She wore a bright pink robe that showed off entirely too much skin for Momohime to feel comfortable looking at her. Light blonde hair was tied up into a trail that descended down to her waist while the top of her hair had the familiar fox ears. Although on closer inspection, the aspiring exorcist realized that it was merely a stylized hairdo rather than the genuine articles of the kitsune. Her eyes were heavy with eyeliner and her eyebrows had been meticulously trimmed, but other than that it didn't seem like she was wearing any makeup whatsoever.
One of her attendants stepped forward before glancing at the group in front of them. "Declare yourselves and pay respects to the director."
One by one, the kitsune descended upon their knees before giving a deep bow. Even their fox partners bowed their heads.
"Kongiku pays her respects." Momohime's benefactor declared as she followed suit. It wasn't long until the entire crescent had bowed, leaving only the test takers to stand and glance amongst themselves. Eventually, the kitsune attendant who had given the order nodded before returning to bow at her master's side.
The woman at the center of it all stepped forward. Everyone waited with bated breath. Thoughts raced through Momohime's heads as she tried to figure out what kind of personality she would have.
Then, she spoke.
"Yo! I see we've got a fine group of applicants this time. Nice night we're having right?" Her decorated eyes sparkled with life as she gave a laid back life. "You don't have to do anything fancy like the kitsune here, that's just something they like to do. I used to try and get them to stop it, but that was too much of a pain so I just let them have their fun."
One of the attendants at her sighed gave a completely, totally, 100% respectful cough.
"Oh you know it's true." Her master teased before turning back to the applicants. "I suppose I must introduce myself. Some of you know me, and some of you probably don't. I'm the founder of the Japan's PR department and also its current acting director. By day I'm the award winning mangaka Yumeko Houshi but in the world of the Night, the name I go by is Abe no Seimei."
The name felt heavy, as if it alone could crush Momohime's soul entirely. Of course, the aspiring exorcist recognized it as the name of the legendary Onmyouji, born and dying in the Heinan period at the end of classical japanese history. Yet here someone stood, claiming to be that very same person.
"I've not contracted with a Youkai, as some of you are no doubt thinking right now." Momohime's eyes widened. The woman's gaze seemed like it was staring right through her. "I can assure you that as I live and breathe, that I am the same Abe no Seimei from 900 years ago."
"Does that mean you're like, super old?" One of the test examinees called out. A young boy with obviously dyed blonde hair wearing a hoodie. Everyone turned to face him and Momohime gulped as she noticed the twitching eyes of the kitsune Kongiku was talking to moments before. "What? It's a valid question!"
"You know it's rude to ask a lady her age." Yumeko (Seimei?) replied with a light laugh. "But if you must know I recently turned 37 this year."
"Wow…" The boy gasped. "You really are old."
"Excuse me!" With a low growl, the kitsune next to Kongiku suddenly stood up before marching on over to where the boy was gripping his arm like a snake. "Please pardon me while I discuss something with my candidate here."
"You're excused." The Director declared with an amused wave.
"Ow! Ow! Hey!" The boy cried as he was quickly dragged down the streets and into a corner. "I get it!"
He quickly disappeared and everyone tried not to stare. A very audible smacking sound echoed through the city, causing Momohime to wince. Under her breath, she could hear Kongiku mutter the words 'A bit much huh?'. It wasn't before long that a very irate voice reached her ears. "You rude little-!"
With a wave of Yumeko's hands, the corner that they disappeared down rippled before vanishing entirely. A stunned silence fell upon the crossing as the examinees slowly turned their attention back to the amused lady.
"Well, that amusing little distraction allowed me to demonstrate something you've no doubt figured out by now." She stated as she began to wave her hands. "The exam isn't being held in the Shibuya of the weighted world. Nope! I've created a little replica of the city so that you can go buck wild as much as you like! Allow me to formally welcome you to-"
"The exam for tonight is quite simple. In order to pass, you must exorcise the youkai holding this space together and escape." Yumeko continued as her attendants brought out three paper envelopes. Painted on each were three symbols. A chain, a kunai, and a pair of headphones. "Inside each of these packets is a piece of paper that will guide you to one of the examiners. Each of the examiners will have a trial prepared for you. Pass, and you will be rewarded with a hint. From that point on, you can take the trial of another examiner or you may spend your time trying to exorcise the youkai."
The director reached into her robes before pulling out an origami bird. Suddenly, it began to flap and flutter on it's own, flying around Abe no Seimei's head. "Of course, there are failure conditions. If you have not managed to escape by the time the sun rises or if you are judged to be in no condition to continue the exam, then you shall be returning home empty handed. We don't give out participation trophies you know?"
"Furthermore, every hour or so we will be unsealing a Youkai throughout the city." The Onmyouji said as she raised a paper talisman. "I assure you, they're nothing you don't have the skill level to handle. But keep in mind that the longer you spend dealing with them, the less energy you have to focus on passing the trial or escaping."
"A moment please." Another young man spoke up, though this time a bit more polite then the one before him. He was quite a thin man with long black hair tied up in the same style as the director. More eye catching however, was his outfit. A long black cloak covered his shoulders, concealing a pure crimson suit and the sword that sat upon his waist. "This one is just wondering, what is the difference between each of the packets? A mere symbol is not enough to go on."
"Well I was going to just let you pick whichever you felt like but." Yumeko put a hand to her cheek. "I suppose that would just be random guessing now wouldn't it? Very well, I'll answer. Pay close attention now, got it?"
The kitsune lifted the first envelope at her Master's gesture. "'The chain of the beast is not to cage it, but to bind it.'"
The second. "'The gear of the past makes up the machine of the future.'"
And finally, the headphones. "As for this one… Well, I don't have anything to say really. That guy is just an old fashioned, out-of-date, hipster. Forgotten tunes that refuse to go silent with the final note."
She paused before turning back to the one who asked the question. "Is that good enough for you?"
"This one has found it sufficient." He nodded.
"Good good. Now then." Abe no Seimei nodded as she turned to the examination. "If you've found any meaning from those words, then line up one by one. When you get to the kitsune, state your name before requesting which trial you would like to undergo. And with that!"
Yumeko snapped her fingers. Suddenly all the blank television screens came to life, displaying a large countdown that began to tick downwards.
"The Tokyo Branch Exorcist Examination will now begin." The director declared before winking. "Good luck and good night!"
With that, she walked off back into the 109 building before disappearing from her view entirely. Kongiku stood up from where she had knelt before turning back to Momohime and giving her a smile, though it was a bit bittersweet."I can't help you anymore. You're on your own from here."
"T-Thank you for everything, I mean it." The black haired woman bowed. "We haven't known each other for long but you've taught me so much!"
"You can raise your head." Her benefactor laughed. "If all goes well, then we're going to be working together as partners in the future."
"Yes!" Momohime nodded her head firmly. "I'll make sure to pass!"
"Then I'll leave it up to you." Kongiku declared before walking off with the rest of the kitsune into the distance. It was only when she vanished from view did the aspiring exorcist really feel like she was on her own.
But there wasn't time to waste thinking about those kinds of things. Momohime had an exam to take.
"Yet again, another choice of three." Demon Blade muttered as the princess thought about which trial to undergo. "These kitsune really do seem to like that number."
"Do you have any idea which one I should take?" The young woman asked herself.
"No. I don't particularly care which one you undergo." The magical girl replied. "You may choose what you wish."
Momohime nodded at the words before making her decision.
AN: The point. It's too valid. And with that, we raise the curtain on the Exorcist Exam!
Literally busted my ass all the way down to Shibuya for this. Turns out, Shibuya is pretty boring, all things considered. That's why I need to make the place exciting myself! Yeah! Good luck everyone!
The decision wasn't exactly an easy one, but it wasn't one that Momohime spent too much time worrying about.
She felt Demon Blade nod her head. "I suppose that's as good a choice as any."
The aspiring exorcist nervously began to walk towards the kitsune at the center of the park. A feeling of dread sinking into her stomach with every step she took. Doubts raced through her head, causing her train of thought to skid to a halt. Was she about to pick the wrong choice? What if she got to the trial and was completely unprepared?
"Calm yourself." The magical girl said softly. "Such thoughts will only serve to rust your blade."
"I get that but…" Her reflection muttered before shaking her head. "No, you're right. I'm going to do this. This Momohime has to do this!"
Her stride picked up pace until she practically ran into the line in front of the kitsune. Her foot tapped nervously against the ground, but it wasn't with impatience. It was more akin to a ritual, something to hype herself up. Getting her body moving and her heart pumping as her fellow examiners received their packets.
Before she even knew it, Momohime's turn approached.
"...Iseko Soushuu..." The purple haired girl in front of her spoke tiredly as she yawned. The aspiring exorcist wasn't really paying attention to her, but she did note that she looked way too young to be taking this exam. "...The Chain."
"Examiner confirmed." The beautiful fox girls announced as they passed her the respective envelope. "We wish you luck and happiness."
"Mmh." Iseko nodded before walking away, leaving the former office lady at the very front.
Alright, it was time to do this! She could do this!
"Um, Momohime Tsukigami!" The former office lady shouted way too loudly as nervous energy filled her body. Horror immediately filled her face as she avoided the other's gazes. Oh this was so not good. With a quieter voice she continued. "T-The Headphones?"
"Momohime Tsukigami…" One of the kitsune giggled as she glanced over at a list in her hand. Her finger trailed down the paper before she blinked. Dread filled the aspiring exorcist as the vixen leaned over and showed the sheet towards the kitsune next to her. Her office worker instincts instantly kicked in, as she recognized a superior co-worker when she saw one.
"Is there something wrong?" The black haired woman hesitantly asked.
"It's nothing. Just a naming mix up." The higher ranking fox girl spoke calmly as she handed her the packet with the headphones on them. "You're the Momohime yes? Examinee confirmed. We wish you luck and happiness."
"Alright." Momohime nodded as she quietly took the envelope out of her hand and scurried away from Shibuya crossing. After that amount of public embarrassment, she needed a quick time to gather her thoughts.
"Then if you need a distraction, I shall assist." Demon Blade chimed in. "Why is it that you picked the Headphones in particular?"
"It wasn't really anything special…" The aspiring exorcist admitted. "It's just that of the three, it was the trial that seemed the least dangerous."
A chain? A kunai?
They were both weapons, signifying something dangerous. Momohime wasn't exactly afraid of fighting and combat, especially not after the previous two youkai incidents she had encountered. Still she wasn't the kind of person who would willingly hurl themselves into chaos if she could help it.
"So you say, but is that not the entire point of this exam?" The magical girl countered. "If you were so truly afraid of danger then you would not be here. Were you not the one who declared that to live life you have to face pain."
The aspiring exorcist sighed. Sahou's face flashed in her mind. Not the muscular adonis she met on the roof, but the withered man she brought out of the building. "That's true. Apologies. It's… Hard to change so easily."
"I wonder if that's truly the case." Her reflection simply said. "Perhaps it was mere curiosity that drove your decision. Or maybe it was just a mere whim. Regardless, I don't believe your choice was out of cowderice."
Momohime blinked. "You really think so?"
"I believe so. What motivates a person is rarely clear, so I suggest you not spend any time needlessly worrying." Demon Blade declared. "Do we not have an exam to take?"
"Oh! Right!" Momohime exclaimed as she hurriedly opened the envelope and pulled out- "A piece of paper?"
It was a simple parchment, the kind that felt rough to the touch. There were no instructions on it, no directions. Instead the only thing there was a simple arrow drawn in ink. It pointed forwards.
"I guess we just follow this?" The aspiring exorcist cautiously said as she began to walk forward. The streets of this 'Weightless Shibuya' still sent a shiver down her spines. Paths that led to nowhere, signs never meant to be read. It was dirty, but more like someone simply put a filter on the place then any true dirt and grime. Momohime glanced down at the paper again. "Ah!"
The arrow, without any warning, had changed the direction it was pointing towards. Demon Blade let out a hum. "So the envelopes serve as a compass, I see. It appears that for this level of examination, they don't expect you to be an expert at navigating weightless space. How fortunate for us."
Momohime's eyes widened as she followed the paper into a back alley. Flashes of textbooks appearing in her head. "Oh I get it! Since the streets are all scrambled, the paper serves as a conduit to guide the mind towards the destination! Wait… Doesn't that mean without it we'd be completely lost?"
"Worse than lost." The verteran dream walker commented. "We'd be unable to reach the trial at all. Forever trapped wandering through ever shifting roads with no destination in mind."
The black haired woman shivered before a thought came to her. "Then on the other hand… Could we simply arrive there if I just focused on the paper? Yeah, like how we escaped the weightless space in the office building!"
Demon Blade didn't even need to say anything. The aspiring exorcist felt positively giddy as her two weeks of craming the basics of the night world kicked in. Holding the paper in the air, Momohime's eyes focused on the arrow. Unlike last time, she didn't know where she was going. But she did know the direction. Common sense dictated that she would need to go through a lot more turns to navigate these backstreets.
Luckily, common sense didn't really apply any more.
"Believe in the path in front of you." Her reflection instructed as the alleyway rippled in front of her. "This realm isn't so weighted that you can't influence where you're heading."
"This paper is guiding me to the end of this path." Momohime declared. It wasn't a statement of fact, it was the creation of fact. It was guiding her forward, so all she needed to do was go forward right? With a confident stride and her head held high, the former office lady made her way through the tainted city. There was no big change, no special effect, as naturally as if the path had always led there, she stepped out onto the main street.
The arrow pointed at a building and Momohime knew it was her destination. Mostly because of what it was. An awkward laugh escaped her lips. "Why am I not surprised?"
The building stood tall above her. Huge yellow pillars were connected to it's entrance, a giant circular disc with the words "No Music No Life" written in cartoony red font placed on top of it. It's name was burning in bright neon that cut into the night. It was, of course, Shibuya's one and only Tower Records.
From the looks of it, Momohime wasn't the only one slapping her forehead. As more and more examines emerged into the main street, the black haired woman observed them rolling their eyes or giving a light groan. After all it was entirely too obvious that the symbol of the headphones would lead to Tower Records of all places.
But of course, Momohime couldn't stand around forever. Nervously, she began to follow everyone inside of the building. The fresh breeze of AC practically slapped her in the face as the aspiring exorcist looked around to find the building… surprisingly normal. The CDs and DvDs being sold were, of course, completely unreasonable but other than that not much had changed in the weightless space.
"Hey, you made it." A man spoke, grabbing her attention. One look and the first thing that came to Momohime's mind was the word 'carefree'. With a slouched back and loose fitting suit, he didn't give the impression that he was taking this seriously at all. One of his hands adjusted the black sunglasses that obscured his eyes while the other caressed his unshaven beard stubble. "There's like, what? One, seven, twelve of you here? Seems like I've pulled the short end of the stick this time."
He paused, waiting to see if any more people would show up. When no one else entered the door, he finally continued talking. "Alright listen up because it'll be a pain to explain this more than once. The name's Odo, Ryuu Odo, and the task I have for you guys is simple: Find me a specific song."
There was a brief mummer of confusion before Odo raised his hand. "Before you all start complaining, shut up. From this floor all the way up the seventh floor there's going to be a bunch of instruments all scattered about. One of them on each floor will have a piece of the song that you need. Bring the song here and play it, and you pass. Easy enough?"
Momohime couldn't help but think that that was… a very poor explanation. Hesitantly, she raised her hand. "E-Excuse me?"
The lackadaisical man instantly glanced over her direction and gave a wave. "Shoot kid."
"I'm… Twenty three."
"Yeah that's what I'll tell the cops." He flippantly replied. "You gonna ask your question or not?"
"Right! How do we know which song is the right one?" The mousy woman asked. "You aren't… giving us a lot to go off of?"
"Of course someone asks that." Odo groaned as he threw himself into the chair behind him. "Lemme ask you this, what's your favorite genre of music?"
Momohime paused as her mind drew a blank. "I… don't really listen to music?"
"Really? Not even like jazz? City pop?"
What? "No I… don't know what those are?"
The examiner put a hand to his forehead. "God I should fail you on the spot. Who here knows what city pop is?"
Out of the over a dozen people here, only three of them raised their hand. Momohime swore that Odo's sunglasses were going to pop off. "I swear you guys get worse and worse every year. Well to answer your question miss jailbait-"
"I'm Twenty Three!"
"And I'm in my late thirties. You're a kid either way." The examiner continued without missing a beat. "Just go with your gut. Keep your ears open, and you'll be sure to find it. Ya dig? But ah, make sure not to listen too carefully. Get distracted and pick the wrong instrument… Well, I'm sure It'll be happy."
WIth that, Odo snapped his fingers. The door to the stairs swung wide as the elevators opened simultaneously. "Take your time, I'll be chillin down here. Don't bother me with pointless shit and have fun."
As if to announce that he was completely done with this conversation, he quietly put on a pair of fancy headphones before kicking his feet onto the counter and closing his eyes. Momohime blinked, waiting one second. Then two. By the third, it had utterly apparent that yep, he just didn't care any more.
Some of the other examines began to filter into the elevator. A veteran of awkward rides, the aspiring exorcist instead opted to take the stairs. Fluorescent lights blared into her eyes as she walked upwards, coming to a stop at the first door she saw.
"Floor 1 - Classical." Momohime read as she tried to glance through the door's window, only to find it blacked out. "I guess this is it huh?"
"Be on your guard." Demon Blade warned. "A youkai is a youkai no matter the shape. Benign they may be, but harmless they are not."
The black haired woman nodded. "Should I hand you control then?"
"I'd recommend against it, personally." Her reflection replied. "We don't know how much time going through the trials will take us, and I cannot stay in the weighted world forever. Draw the Blade only when it's necessary and never more than that. Besides, this is your exam Momohime."
With a solemn nod, the aspiring exorcist pushed open the door and stepped inside.
That was a mistake.
What was once a hyper-modern shopping building in the midst of Shibuya had inexplicably been transformed into a gigantic concert building. Chandeliers illuminated the room, hanging from the ceiling that stretched past the limits of Tower Records exterior and seemingly into the sky. The floor was slick and glassy, in any other circumstances it might have been a pleasure to be here. Right now however, the moment Momohime walked inside she instantly had to clutch her head as the most intense migraine she had ever experienced hit her all at once.
The room was filled with many classical instruments, from the grand piano that took center stage to the cellos that stood waiting in the stands. Even the walls were plastered with enough old european instruments to take up nearly the entire room. There was enough here to form an entire orchestra, or on paper at least. In reality, an orchestra was formed by the instruments all combining their sounds together to create one full, melodic piece. However in this concert hall, each and every instrument played their own tune with no care for the others. An orchestra only had room for one soloist at a time, a memo none of them had gotten.
To a listener, well…
"I think I'm going to be sick." Momohime moaned as she tried to pull herself back on her feet. Her ears felt like they had been set on fire. Her brain could only handle so many thoughts from so many notes played in so many ways. With shaky legs, the aspiring exorcist stepped forwards as other examinees entered from the elevator.
"I admit that this is… Ear grating." Demon Blade growled. Her own reflection was drowned out by the solo symphony. Impressive since she was a voice in Momohime's head. "Does that bum really expect us to single out a specific song in this mess?"
"He said to um, keep our ears opened and go with our gut?" The aspiring exorcist closed her eyes and listened closely. The songs blended together into a thorny tidal wave that bashed into her skull. "Euk, nope!"
"I confess, I don't think I'll be able to assist you here."
"It's not your fault." She sighed. "I'll just… walk around a bit. See if I can find anything."
When one listened to good music, time flew by in an instant. When one listened to bad music, time slowed down to a crawl. For Momohime, listening to this cacophony buried time six feet under. She agonizingly made her way through the floor as she tried to get her thoughts in order. There was no physically possible way that she could differentiate one tune from another, so instead she tried to search the room itself for clues. Luckily, she was able to find one thing.
Under each instrument, there was a small plaque and short description of what it was. A hurdy gurdy, once favored by a king who lost his hand and could play no more. A baroque flute, phased out once the more modern flutes were designed. No matter the instrument however, the story was always the same.
"One day, someone put it down and it was never picked up again." Momohime mumbled to herself as she gave a quick glance at the instruments in question. They preened at her attention, playing louder, sharper. Instinctively, she stepped back. "Demon Blade…"
"Forgotten tunes that refuse to go silent with the final note." Her counterpart recited. "That was the phrasing used for this trial, was it not?"
Black eyes narrowed. "So that could only mean that these instruments are Youka-"
"Hey!"
Her instincts kicked in. Before she even realized what she was doing, her feet spun around and her fist slammed into something. No, rather, it was some one. With a groan, he fell to the ground. Momohime looked on in a horror before she quickly knelt down and tried to help him up. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! You just startled me! I-I didn't mean too-!"
"Talk about one hell of a blow!" The young boy, the rude one from Shibuya Crossing Momohime realized, groaned as he dusted himself off. Now that she looked at him closely, despite the dyed peach blonde hair whose black roots were still visible, he didn't exactly give off much of a punk attitude. More a… childish sense of style. Not that Momohime really knew what was stylish. The high school kid quickly readjusted the headphones over his ears (an idea Momohime wished she thought of earlier) before letting out a sigh. "Though I guess it is my fault for suddenly spooking you."
"No but that doesn't make it okay for me to just attack you!" The mousey woman protested. "I really don't know what came over me!"
"It's fine. I'm fine." He sighed before placing his hands on his hips. "Look, you're the chick who's kitsune was talking with Kouyou right?"
Momohime blinked. "Kouyou?"
"The one who dragged my ass out during the explanation of the exam." The boy let out another groan as he rolled his neck. Now that she was looking closely, Momohime realized she could still see a faded handprint on the kid's cheek. "Holy hells she was pissed. Chewed me out for so long I missed the explanation for the actual exam itself."
"Oh, then um yes." The young woman nodded nervously. "My name's Momohime Tsukigami."
"Mmh. Name's Kei Kagami." The newly identified Kei held out his hand. For some reason, they were completely covered in wrapping, a second layer going up his jacket and seemingly binding the cloth to arm. Momohime tentatively shook it. "You mind telling me what we're actually supposed to be doing? There's this weirdo at the counter downstairs who wouldn't respond to anything I did and everyone else I've seen so far seems to be, well…"
He pointed at the other examine on the floor, who was shuffling across the ground. "Well, they all look like that."
The man's eyes were glassy. Like a puppet being pulled on strings, he shuffled across the concert hall slowly. Making his way through the stands as his head slowly nodded to a beat only he heard. Momohime's head quickly whipped around the floor to glance at the two others who had started here. She was certain that they were all lucid when they exited the elevator but now their presence was only physical.
"When did that-" The aspiring exorcist began, only to be interrupted by a loud note that reverberated through the concert hall. The shambling daydreamer had taken a seat at the grand piano at the center of the concert hall. Slowly, he played a note on the key. And then another. Soon he was haphazardly playing a melody that overpowered the other instruments in the concert hall. It was in the major key, but with a somber darkness to it that lurked underneath.
Momohime couldn't help clenching her fist and taking in a hiss of air. A fact that Kei seemed to agree with as the two slowly pressed their backs against the other's, silently scanning the room around them.
The melody grew faster, hungrier. It's notes and phrasing taking chaotic twists and turns that the song itself couldn't take. Soon enough, the man had degraded to just slamming his fists on to the piano keys. No rhythm at all, and yet it was still somehow building to a crescendo. When the peak finally arrived, the piano decided to add a new instrument.
Crunch.
A sickening sound.
Momohime watched in horror as the lid of the piano flew open, turning into a giant jaw that chomped down upon the poor man's arms. The once harmonious melody had turned into the nightmarish sound of bone and flesh being ground down. Blood dripped down onto the floor the coppery scent filling the air as bile threatened to escape her stomach. It was only when his arms had become no more than stubs did the man's mind return to him. A horrible scream of pain reverberate throughout the concert hall as the instruments came to life, their own music adding to the symphony of nightmares.
The scarring scene lasted for a brief few moments before two girls folded into existence next to the man. No, they weren't girls. Their bodies were flat, made of neatly folded paper that was just shaped to look like a person. They quietly smashed their fists into the piano before grabbing the poor man. For a brief second, Momohime stared into their blank, faceless paper gaze. They pulled out a piece of paper and slapped it onto the armless man's forehead. As if the scene was just a mirage, they vanished.
It wasn't hard to tell what just happened.
He had failed the exam.
And of course, in doing so, had left a very angry piano monster running around the concert hall. The rest of the instruments soon joined in, rising from their places with hollow holes that sharpened into eyes. Broken strings acted like a wild mane as they growled and howled their own forgotten tunes.
Momohime's breath hitched as the piano turned towards them. Drool escaped it's open jaw. It let out a mess of notes similar to a bark as it charged through the concert hall, straight towards them.
Kei clicked his tongue before biting down upon his thumb. "Invoke!"
A spectral hand formed into existence, slamming itself down on to the piano with a loud thud. It squirmed and howled underneath, calling the other instruments to join it's hunt. By this point Momohime realized that she was never standing in a concert hall, with cultured and sophisticated music. No this had always been nothing more than a den of beasts.
"Momohime-"
"Right! Invoke!" The princess called, and the Sword appeared. Demon Blade quickly took control of her hands as she unsheathed it's steel. Wind gently blew against the water of her soul. "I am the one who shall bear the curse. Awaken, Magical GirlDemon Blade."
The youkai let out a cry at the sudden burst of magic, flinching away from the swordsman. Kei however, only wiped the sweat from his brow as he stared at Demon Blade with wide eyes. "Holy crap… What the hell is a magical girl doing here?!"
"Taking the exam." She replied before turning her gaze to the impossible creatures that surrounded them. "I thought that to be obvious."
"Like hell that is!" The high schooler retorted. "Where the hell did the girl I was just talking to go?"
"I'm still here!" Momohime cried as she projected her flame body onto the world. "Demon Blade is just sort of like my… reflection?"
Kei's eyes darted between the flame and the swordsman so fast the aspiring exorcist was worried that he would go cross eyed. Before he could even say anything though, a high pitched laugh interrupted him.
"Kakaka! You're still bound by the laws of the weighted world if mere logic is enough to keep you down big bro." A little girl forced herself into existence, floating behind the high schooler with a leisurely laugh. Her hair was jet black, stylized in an old fashioned bob cut. Pale white skin was contrasted by a bright red skirt, though the thing that grabbed Momohime's attention the most was the absurdly smug grin on her face as she poked at the blonde boy's head. "They're the same person Ob~vi~ous~ly~!"
"Oh shut up!" Kei yelled back, his cheeks dusted red. "They have magic mumbo jumbo going on! You can't blame me!"
"Not taking responsibility ain't cool ya know!" The strange girl grinned before floating in front of Demon Blade, giving an upside down wave. "Still, it's cool to have a magical girl in the Night World! Though you look familiar for some reason… Have you run into a ripple of mine before?"
"...Perhaps." The magical girl sighed. "If you are who I think you are, then the ripples you've caused are quite numerous."
"Kakaka! But of course!" The youkai laughed before standing on top of her contractor's shoulders. "I am the Queen of the School Yard after all! The one and only Toilet Bound Hanako-san is here to give her shining debut!"
"Get off!" Kei yelled, trying to shake the child off. "Queen of the School Yard my ass, you're a two-bit creepy pasta at best!"
"Um, not to be rude but…" Momohime nervously glanced at the encroaching instruments from hell. "I think we have other problems to deal with."
"True. We'll put off the pleasantries for later." The swordsman quickly took her stance before glancing at the other contractors. "I trust you two can handle yourself in a fight?"
"Who the hell do you think you're talking to?" The contractor replied as he raised his fists. "We wouldn't be here if we were just pushovers."
"What big bro said!" Hanako lifted up her hands and Momohime watched as they sharpened into elongated nails. Her eyes twisted into dark voids as trails of blood ran down them. "No matter how many enemies there are, those who hurt my friends will suffer hell."
Momohime tried not to think about how creepy that sounded and instead focused her attention on the nightmares that weren't on her side.
The first act of the infernal cacophony had ended. Now, the fight was on.
[] There's too many. Attempt to Escape the room
[] Focus on destroying all the instruments
[] Write in
AN: We have approached the territory of "Honestly I don't actually have a reference image". If you see any sheets without reference images from this point on, please use your imagination.
The grand piano was a rather unnatural beast. It's lid slammed up and down while the pearly white keys acted like fangs, clattering together in it's mouth. Drool slobbering down it's lips as it struggled to break free of the spectral hand that had grasped it's form. Unfortunately for it, despite being a creature straight out of a horror movie, a greater nightmare was now praying upon it.
"Come here you~!" Hanako screamed with a manic laughter. Her spectral body shot like a bullet through the air before her claws sunk into it. With absolutely no hesitation, the urban legend began to tear the instrument apart. It desperately struggled to fight back, but that only served to fuel the girl more as it fell apart piece by piece. The piano didn't bleed for it had no flesh, but what escaped it's lips was definitely a melody of pain.
Hanako: 285 Base Damage +N/A Dice = 285 Total Damage
Grand Piano: 200 Base Resilience +N/A Dice = 200 Total Reduction
85 End Damage
Grand Piano: 1100 - 85 = 1015 HP Remaining
Shred!
Base Resilience: 200 - 4 = 196 Base Resilience
Hanako: 285 Base Damage +N/A Dice = 285 Total Damage
Grand Piano: 196 Base Resilience +N/A Dice = 196 Total Reduction
89 End Damage
Grand Piano: 1015 - 91 = 936 HP Remaining
Shred!
Base Resilience: 196 - 4 = 192 Base Resilience
"More! More! Cry more!" Hanako cheered, her lips smeared a bloody red as the wood began to splinter. "Playing with you is so much fun! Kakaka!"
Demon Blade was unmoved by the sight, immediately dashing at the string instruments surrounding the group. The Muramasa Blade glinted in the light. Before the demonic hurdy-gurdy could even react, steel began to carve into it.
Muramasa Blade: 150 Base Damage +20 Dice = 170 Total Damage
Strings: 125 Resilience +NA Dice = 125 Total Reduction
50 End Damage
Strings: 210 - 50 = 160 Remaining Health
The swordsman clicked her tongue. "Tough."
Strings flailed through the air as the beastily instrument recovered from the pain and quickly tried to consume the magical girl once more. Or at least it would have if it wasn't for the bandaged fist slamming into it. The hurdy-gurdy fell to the floor, playing it's final note before shattering into pieces. Demon Blade's eyes quickly appraised the young fighter, his hands surrounded by a light mist that left the lingering scent of rot and filth in the air.
"Um," Momohime spoke as her flaming eyes glanced towards the young girl who was still toying with the piano. "Is she alright?"
"Hanako's the manifestation of a ghost story, what did you expect?" Kei grunted. "But I think we can leave the piano up to her. Doesn't look like it's going to escape any time soon. Not that I particularly want to be in this room any longer as well. What the fuck is going on?"
"I… have no clue. I think this is part of the test?" The mousy woman admitted. "Though I didn't expect it to be so…"
She didn't need to finish, the young boy quickly got the point as he nodded with a sick look. That scene with the piano was probably going to haunt her dreams for a while. Shivers would have crawled down her spine just thinking about it if Demon Blade wasn't in control of her body at the moment.
"Hold your bile in for a little bit more Momohime." The magical girl in question stated as the instruments grew closer. "We've got more problems then that-"
"GAH!" A scream echoed through the concert hall. The group whipped their head around only to find one of the instruments had wrapped it's strings around another Examinee's arm. It tried to pull them in, but whatever daze they had been in was quickly wiped away as they struggled to break free. Not helping his case were the violins joining in, each chomping to attack their free limbs.
"We need to-" Momohime began to shout only to be suddenly interrupted by Demon Blade jumping out of the way as the rest of the instruments lunged at her.
"I'll take care of the ones here." The swordswoman grunted before turning towards her fellow Youkai contractor. "Kei, was it? Your strength is sufficient. It may seem like a selfish request but can you handle rescuing the other examinees?"
"Of course!" The blonde grunted. "And if the ones over here get too much for you then head towards Hanako. She's a brat but there's no doubting her strength."
"I do not expect to need assistance but very well." Demon Blade nodded. It sounded like a solid plan in theory but… Momohime's thoughts were interrupted as the magical girl turned towards her. "If you're worried so much then go with him. I will not fault your will on this."
"Eh?" If she had eyes right now, she would've blinked. "Are you serious?"
The blackhaired woman pointed a finger at herself. "You'll both be right here and over there. If things get bad, I'll know about it at the speed of thought. There's no time for doubts, so just go."
"Right!" The flame vibrated up and down while Kei nodded, the two of them blasting forward towards the examine who was suspended by string in the air, looking in horror as the instruments began to nibble at his skin. Momohime glanced at her partner before turning back towards the instruments. "Do you have any ranged attacks?!"
"I've got the spectral hand but if I release that then the piano will be over us in seconds!" Kei cried as his sneakers squeaked against the polished concert halls. "What about you?!"
"Demon Blade is the one with all the Blade Arts!" The aspiring exorcist cried. "This projection is the only Art that I know!"
"So you're useless?!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Nevermind! I got this!" The foul order grew stronger as the boy thrusted out his hands. "Just gotta hope I make it in time! Deathly Bound!"
Cost: 100 HP
Kei Kagami: 1200 - 100 = 1100 Remaining Health
The bandages around Kei's clothes began to throb and thrash, as if something was trying to break free. White cloth slowly became a rotting, scaly green that crawled down his arms and onto his hands. Flesh morphed and cracked, and Momohime couldn't help but flicker as the high schooler's hands stopped being well hands but instead became reptilian lizards heads, jaws opening to reveal sharp fangs as the slits in their fleshy yellow eyes bead across the room. Kei leaped through the air, and the slimy tongues of the lizard heads flickered in and out as he brought them down on the violins.
Privacy Invasion: 285 Base Damage, +N/A Dice = 285 Base Damage
Strings: 125 Resistance, +N/A Dice, -31 Armor Pierce = 94 Base Resistance
191 Total Damage
Strings: 210 - 191 = 19 Health Remaining
Chomp. With jaws of steel, a loud cracking sound causing a distorted screech to pierce through the air. Instantly the strings stopped digging into the examine's skin, dropping them to the floor. Kei didn't even pause for a moment though as the scales creeped up his throat and engulfed his head. Soon enough, the boy's head had become a near identical lizard head to the one on his hands, a gurgling sound escaping its throat as it chomped down on another violin. Momohime glanced from the three headed lizard monster to the monstrous but still human-looking little girl.
...Which one was the Youkai and which one was the contractor again?
No never mind. That was a topic for when they weren't in the middle of a fight. Momohime forced her luminescent body through the air before hovering over the dazed examinee. A woman, now that she looked closely. One whose brown hair was tied up into a ball behind her head, filled with sharp metal needles and pins of various sizes. Her outfit was reminiscent of a green kimono, but with various cuts that made it look like a cosplay outfit or street wear instead of formal clothing. The projected flame quickly leaned inwards before squeaking. "Are you okay?!"
"I… Yes." The woman shook her head before reaching into her hair and taking out two needles. With a flick of her wrist, the metal shot through the air, crashing directly into the wrecked violins that Kei had left behind. Although their size was small, the remains of the instruments cracked on impact, leaving behind one final note before collapsing onto the floor. "Thank you for the rescue. That was… Deeply disturbing."
"This entire concert hall is horrifying." Momohime had to agree.
"Kh! Kh!" Kei chirped out in a language only understandable by his lizard brain brethren.
Strings: 105 Base Damage +N/A Dice = 175 Total Damage
INTERCEPT!
Privacy Invasion: 285 Base Damage, +N/A Dice = 285 Total Damage
110 Difference, Privacy Invasion wins
Privacy Invasion: 110 Intercept Damage, +N/A Dice = 110 Total Damage
Strings: 125 Base Resistance, +N/A Dice, -31 Armor Pierce = 94 Total Reduction
16 End Damage
Strings: 210 - 16 = 194 Remaining Health
One of the remaining violins launched it's strings forward, only for it to be caught in the jaws of Kei's lizard heads. With a wild yank, the nightmarish instrument flew forwards only to be smacked with a solid punch- Uh, Headbut- Momohime didn't even know what it was at this point. It didn't do much to the thing, but it stunned it long enough for the needle woman to get back on her feet and launch another needle at the third violin, ending it's tune and leaving the last violin of the section on it's lonesome. Two flame eyes, two human eyes, and six lizard eyes all turned to glare at it.
It let out a high pitched tune that sounded suspiciously like a whimper before retracting all of it's beastial qualities and falling on the floor. The three aspiring exorcists all looked at the now normal violin that sat there on the floor as if trying to become a dust magnet. Momohime was the one who spoke up first. "Is… Is it playing dead?"
"Khhhheeeep." Kei let out as he began to revert back to a human, the scales retracting down his neck until it was only covering his jaw. "Seems so."
"Well unless it's going to try and sneak attack us-" Four lizard eyes, four human eyes, and a burning gaze all glared at the instrument. It quivered before they all relaxed. The examinee that they saved bowed her head towards the two. "Then I think we can relax for now."
She quickly whipped her head back up and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "My name's Saki Onoda. It's not really like me to make such an uncool entrance but y'all- Er, the two of you really saved me there."
"It's nothing really." Momohime spoke before her flame grew brighter. "Wait! The other examine-"
"FUCKING HELL!" A voice roared through the concert hall, clear even among that cacophony that was the noise. Everyone quickly turned to see the other examine on the floor, a burly man dressed in black leather with an unshaven beard, pull a flute out of his chest and toss it to the floor. He raised one of his tree trunk-like legs and it began to vibrate before turning into a car wheel, slamming into the poor instrument and grinding into dust. The rest of the woodwinds, buzzing through the air like insects, all began to shoot towards him but he already began to ride on out of the concert hall as the sound of an engine could be heard. "Goddammit fuck this floor! I'm trying another one!"
The door slammed shut behind him.
Momohime slowly bobbed up and down in the air before closing her eyes only to find Demon Blade's open. The Muramasa Blade slicing through one of the woodwind insects like it was made of butter. Things on her end were going…
"The situation isn't critical." The magical girl declared as she dodged string after string of attack. "Though my blade isn't sharp enough to slice through these youkai cleanly on their own… Hmph. Blade Art Number 3. "Crescent Moon."
Cost: 125 HP
Crescent Moon: 200 Base Damage, +N/A Dice = 200 Total Damage
Strings: 125 Base Resilience, +N/A Dice = 125 Total Reduction
75 End Damage
Strings: 210 - 75 = 135 Remaining Health
Muramasa Blade: 950 - 125 = 825 Remaining Health
Demon Blade grunted as the stormy wind left her blade. The instruments took the brunt of the art but still stood tall. The swordsman used the intervening time to launch another gust of wind before her feet shot backwards as she tried to gain distance. "Once this exam is done we're going through another bout of training. My current skill with the sword is… insufficient."
The way her reflection growled out the word was sharper than anything the mousy woman had ever heard her say. If she could, her body would have shivered, but instead she just snapped open her flame eyes and let out a nervous laugh. "Um, Demon Blade is having some problems but I think she can handle herself for a bit longer."
"And of course Hanako is having way too much fun with Mozart's Academia Nightmare over there." Kei grumbled.
"Mozart's Academia- Eek!" Saki screamed as she turned towards the sight of the bloody little girl tearing chunks out of the grand piano in the center stage. At this point, Momohime had begun to pity the poor thing as it struggled and failed to escape the spectral hand it was under. Every time it tried, Hanako just took that as another opportunity to shred more of its body into pieces. A terrified, countryside ridden dialect escaped the fashionable woman's lips. "That certainly ain't gonna leave mah head for a while!"
She paused before hastily covering up her mouth. "I-I mean!"
"Ya get used to it." Momohime let out a bitter drawl as she nervously chuckled. "At the very least, you didn't have to see what came before it…"
"While we're all being all buddy-buddy, can someone tell me what the hell we're supposed to do here?!" The high school boy growled as he glanced into Momohime's flame. "In case you forgot, I missed the instructions!"
"Well they wouldn't have done you much good." The seamstress sighed. "All we were told was that one of the instruments here would have a piece of a song. That and to 'listen carefully and go with our gut instinct'. Fat lot of good that did…"
"Oh right!" Momohime perked up, trying to ignore how one of Kei's lizard head-hands used it's slimy tongue to snatch a flute out of midair and begin chomping on it like it was an afternoon snack. "Saki, would you please tell us what exactly happened to you?"
"Well it's a bit hard to explain but…" The woman waggled her hands. "I was following the instructions, right? Listen closely and all that? Then suddenly one of the instruments stood out from the crowd, and I swear on my needles it was playing a song I hadn't heard since I was a child! I began to reminisce and enjoy the song- Next thing I knew the thing and it's friends were trying to bite my limbs off!"
The remaining violin in question let out a sad note that almost sounded like an apology. No one listened to it.
"I guess we can assume the same about the others who got caught in the daze.." The aspiring exorcist muttered to herself as she recalled the examiner's words. "Then when he said to not listen too carefully to the instruments what he actually meant was that they have a lure."
The songs of the muted ensemble were hypnotic. Playing old and forgotten tunes, they lured humans to play them. And the moment when they were satisfied they devoured their players. Though for some reason, Momohime herself hadn't been affected by it… Was it because she was a magical girl?
"I do not believe I had anything to do with it." Demon Blade spoke over their connection. "Whatever the cause may be, it's best we see it as a blessing in disguise for now."
"So, what?" Kei spoke up. "We gotta try and figure out which instrument here isn't a nightmare monster out to eat us alive? I can barely hear jackshit and that's not just because I have headphones on!"
Momohime glanced around the concert hall, trying to see if there was some hidden instrument hiding in a corner somewhere. After a few seconds of fruitless effort, she shook her head. Although lacking a neck, it was more of a little wiggle-waggle in mid air. "At the very least, I doubt any of the instruments attacking us is the correct one. Even if it was, we aren't going to find it in this cacophony."
She listened in closely to the ensemble once again. Nothing stood out to her, nothing but the absurd racket as the instruments fought for dominance over her ears. The princess came to a decision. "The forgotten orchestra likes a conductor. Their torched wish to be played has created a symphonia of chaos. That is why, this Momohime believes we must bring their final performance to an end."
"...I agree." Saki nodded as she pulled a needle out of her hair. "Listening to this any longer will make my ears bleed. I'd have preferred to cremate them, but as Youkai, I don't think their bodies will really burn anyways."
"I'm cool with beating these fuckers down." The remaining exorcist nodded. "So what's the game plan?"
"Meet back up with Demon Blade." Momohime ordered. "Sticking together will prevent us from being overwhelmed. After that, keep fighting until the concert is over. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" The two shouted before charging over towards where the magical girl was. Momohime didn't follow them, instead closing her eyes and letting her presence flicker out of existence. When she opened them and found herself carving through one of a violin, her reflection was waiting for her.
"...While assistance is appreciated, it's not strictly necessary." The swordsman spoke. "I can handle myself well enough."
"Ahaha." Momohime laughed nervously before collecting herself. "But I think it would be best if we saved our energy? I can feel how tired you are already."
"...Perhaps you are right." The magical girl muttered. "Exhaustion. What a strange feeling."
"We'll take a break after this." Being a black company slave, she knew full well the importance of saving her energy. "For now, let's just focus on defeating the orchestra."
"Very well." Demon Blade spoke. "That I can do."
Momohime didn't know exactly how long it took for the demonic orchestra to finally be put to rest, but it was exhausting work. A lot of it boiled down to the repetitive task of dodging and weaving. Demon Blade nimble on her feet and the attacks from the ensemble were fairly simple to predict. The ones that did hit her… Well she couldn't even feel most of them and the one she did stung as much as a bee. That didn't mean she particularly wanted to get hit though, so Kei served as an excellent destruction as having a rampaging lizard brained high schooler chomp through your ranks was very noticeable. Most of the actual fight itself boiled down to Saki and her just finishing off the instruments that the lizard boy didn't manage to completely destroy.
On the bright side, she was able to cause enough pain and suffering to satiate the Muramasa Blade's bloodlust enough that it had begun to heal. At least until the very end of the battle.
"Gah!" Hanako suddenly cried as she attempted to grab onto the rampaging nightmare piano. "No no! Stay still will you! I'm almost done tearing you to pieces!"
That was, patently, not the right thing to say to the creature as it struggled more. Squirming and biting before eventually, the worst outcome happened. It slipped free of the spectral hand it was under.
"Get back here!" Hanako cried, but it was too late. The Grand Piano had already begun to run rampaging, limping all the while but still slobbering as it hungrily approached the group of exhausted exorcists. It was starving, the appetizer of flesh that it had earlier only serving to make it roar as it let loose a chorus of diminished notes. Demon Blade clicked her tongue, Muramasa Blade glinting in her hands as she charged forwards.
Saki's hand immediately shot towards her hair as she brought forth another needle, this time with a peculiar green thread wrapped around it. "Hardship Memories - Broken Needles!"
Cost: 100
Saki: 500 - 100 = 400 Remaining Health
"Blessings be upon you!" The woman prayed, the needle glowing for a bit before the seamstress flicked her wrist. The needle shot through the air, piercing not into the piano monster, but into the flesh of Demon Blade herself. The magical girl barely even felt the pin prick, but whatever art Saki had used began to affect her. It was exactly as she had said, the needle was a blessing, a prayer, and Demon Blade knew exactly what it did.
No matter how fast the creature acted, the first move would always be hers.
"Much appreciated." The black haired swordsman nodded. "Now then. To bring this performance to it's finale, Blade Art Number 1."
Demon Blade vanished into the mist. Out of sight, but not out of mind. The grand piano didn't have any time to comprehend where the magical girl had gone before she was suddenly right behind it. The Muramasa Blade growled, hungry for life. And so, she carved. "Misty Slash."
Cost: 250 HP
Misty Slash: 400 Base Damage +N/A Dice = 400 Total Damage
Misty Slash: 400 Base Damage +N/A Dice = 400 Total Damage
800 Collective Damage
Grand Piano: 158 Base Resistance +N/A Dice = 158 Base Resistance
642 End Damage
Grand Piano: 295 - 642 = 0 Health Remaining
Muramasa Blade: 901 - 250 = 651 Health Remaining
In two slices, the deed was done. The demonic piano stepped forward a few more steps before letting out a sad little lick and collapsing in on itself, falling into shards of broken instrument.
The magical girl took a breath before placing her sword in its sheath. "I believe that with this, we are done."
"...Alright, I'll admit it." Kei spoke with wide eyes as his transformation came undone. "That was awesome!"
"Hm, that Art was…" Hanako trailed off before her grin split wider than a child's ever should. "Hahaha! I've never had a cursed swordsman for a friend before!"
"I'm just relieved that the fight is over." Saki mumbled as she plopped down to the floor, exhausted. "I'm freakin exhausted y'all."
"...Sorry that I wasn't able to help out that much." Momohime apologized as she projected herself back into the building.
"Don't humble yourself." Demon Blade shook her head. "You can take pride in my achievements. We are reflections after all."
"But doing that is a bit…" It didn't make her feel like she was contributing was the problem. Even if the sensation was there, she wasn't the ones making decisions.
Before her moping could be continued, there was a sound. The sound of an instrument, causing every exorcist in the concert hall to freeze as they all glanced towards the source. Only to find… The violin that had decided to play dead and promptly forgotten about floating up into the air. Their bodies tensed, ready to fight, but the instrument didn't even seem to care for them as it floated up to the center of the stage and began to play.
The tune was different this time. A gentle melody with neither the rush or ferocity of the symphony that had preceded it. At the same time however, it was a rather lonely piece. Filled with melancholy and nostalgia for days long past. The exorcists in the room closed their eyes and listened, knowing that this was the song piece they were searching for.
Eventually it came to a close, the melody drawing out it's final note before the violin did the closest equivalent it could of taking a bow. Burning flames erupted around the wood, and it peacefully accepted it, falling to the ground as gray, cremated ash.
"...The heck was that about?" Kei asked as soon as it was burned away.
"Tools exist to be used." Saki declared as she stood back up on her feet. "But they also have souls, and in this case, desires. The instruments here… if I'm understanding this right then they're kind of like a Shami Choro or a Koto Furunushi. Instruments that grow old and forgotten without the proper burial rights are transformed by their grief into wild beasts. My guess is that any of the instruments in this room would do. The problem was simply that they all wished to be heard at the same time but refused to cooperate with each other. By removing the other instruments, the violin was able to play it's solo and ascend to heaven… Or however that works for Youkai."
"You seem to know quite a lot about this." Momohime commented, causing Saki to give her a grin while patting her needle filled bun.
"The Youkai I'm contracted with is the Hari Kuyo, the festival of broken needles, which is all about giving your thanks to the needles you've worked with. I guess that makes me kind of an expert on this subject huh?" The seamstress explained before wagging her finger at the two. "That's why ya gotta make sure to respect your tools, aight?!"
"You can contract with festivals?" The mousy woman heard the high school boy mummer, but it didn't surprise her that much. Someone had thought about the idea, and it was widespread enough that it tried to breach through into the weighted world. Youkai were already formeless, weightless entities. Trying to box them into the concept of 'living, sentient creature' was a fool's errand.
"We should probably get moving soon." Momohime spoke up, glancing towards the exit. "We're on a time limit, remember? I haven't kept track of how long it took us to get one of the song pieces but we still have the rest of the exam to go through."
"Breaks are allowed though, right?" Kei spoke up. "I gotta go to the bathroom."
Hanako snickered, and the boy blushed bright red before waving his fists. "Oh shut up!"
"The bathroom is my domain! Ka ka ka!" The little girl in the red dress laughed. "Enter if you dare!"
....The flame ignored the comedy routine happening next to her before turning to her fellow exam taker. "What about you?"
"Haha! Yeah, uh, about that…" Saki trailed off before letting a sigh. "Really sorry, but I'm going to call it quits here. I thought I was prepared for the exam but well, my prayers didn't exactly work out for me that well. Plus I honestly don't think I can keep going. I am wiped. I just don't have the energy that you kids have."
"We're twenty three." Momohime and Demon Blade said in unison, causing the seamstress to go bug eyed.
"That was you?!" She shouted, and Momohime was lucky her pout was hard to make out through her flames. Why did everyone think that she was so young? "Jeez, remind me to call you up to go drinking some time! Ah, wait a moment."
With a flourish from her hair, Saki pulled out three needles. Two with red string, and another in green. Softly, she bent down and prayed, invoking her art once more. The needles glowed with her blessing before the seamstress stood back up and handed them to Demon Blade. "Here, these should serve you well."
Cost: 300 HP
Saki: 400 - 300 = 100 Health
"A-Are you alright?!" Momohime cried as Saki's face began to pale. "You shouldn't strain yourself for us!"
"Nah, It's alright. If I'm going to drop out here, might as well help the ones who saved me pass instead." She waved before gesturing to the needles. "The green one is for action, the red one is for reaction. Got that?"
"Thank you." Demon Blade nodded as she pocketed the needles. "Your sacrifice is much appreciated."
"Man, when you say sacrifice it makes sound way more dramatic than me quitting like a chicken." Saki scratched her chin. "I'm just going to train harder and hopefully make it through on the next exam. Hopefully we'll be coworkers someday!"
"Yeah." The flame grew brighter. "Good luck!"
"Same goes to you!" The seamstress cried before raising her hand into the air. "I withdraw my candidacy!"
Instantly, the two paper girls were once more by her side. Saki gave one look at them before giving her fellow exorcists a wave. At least, it seemed like she was about to before one of the origami humans smacked a piece of paper on her forehead. "Ow! Didja have to be so roug-"
And then, as if she was never even there, Saki Onoda was gone.
"...Right then. I'm going to take a leak, I think I saw a bathroom downstairs." Kei waved. "What about you Momohime?"
The aspiring exorcist thought about it before letting out a sigh. "I think I'll follow you downstairs as well. If the other floors are like this, then I think I'll be getting a lot of use out of a pair of headphones."
To think this was only the start of the Exorcist Exams. Momohime was beginning to feel like this was going to be a long night.
"You think this counts as stealing?" Momohime asked as Demon Blade examined a pair of headphones in front of her. "We don't have to pay the examiner right?"
"I believe these headphones are nothing more than an illusion created by the weightless space. Solid, believable illusions, but illusions nonetheless." The magical girl replied as she placed the headphones on her head. Momohime could feel the weight on her ears and wow, that was soft. They fit snugly around her head as well. She was definitely going to buy one of these once the exam was over. Er, after she got something to use them on of course. "I believe these will do. No cord either, so it won't hinder us in a fight."
"Huh?" Momohime's flame squinted as she looked at it closer. "Then how are you supposed to use them?"
"The box says something about 'bluetooth'?" Demon Blade replied, giving her a questioning look. Momohime shook her head, the term wasn't familiar to her either. "Then I suppose it doesn't matter. It's a convenience for us at the very least."
There was a loud banging sound as Kei kicked open the door to the men's restroom and walked back on over to the pair. "Alright! I'm done!"
"That took a while." The magical girl raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps you found your business more work than you expected?"
Momohime was lucky that her body was currently a spectral green flame otherwise she'd be burning a bright, hot red right now. "Please stop saying stuff like that with my mouth!"
"Er, gross. But also yeah." The former office lady shot the boy a scandalized look and his face immediately dyed crimson as he began to wave his hands. "No! No! Not like that! I just had Hanako check on something for me!"
"Oh?" Demon Blade replied. "Do tell."
"You know how she's a toilet spirit right?" The blonde elaborated. "I used that to have Hanako scout out all the floors in the building so we know what we're up against."
"That's great!" Momohime cheered.
"I know right?! It's like the best idea I've ever had! What they say about genius occurring on the toilet was true!" That was not a sentence she needed to hear. "We've got this trial in the bag!"
"Pfft, hahaha!" Someone laughed, and it took the trio a minute to realize it wasn't coming from them. Their gazes all turned towards the stairwell where a man in his early twenties walked out. "Sorry, I just heard something so astonishingly foolish that I had to laugh."
One glance at him and Momohime instantly knew what kind of person he was. Messy ash gray hair paired with mocking silver eyes, the only thing he was missing was a smug smirk. Not because he definitely wasn't doing it, but because it was hidden behind a strange device that covered his mouth. A screen, with a line that showed the sound vibrations of every noise that came out of his mouth, connected to a pair of dials on his ears. The rest of his outfit wasn't quite as outlandish, a pair of black shorts and a black jacket, unzipped to freely show the white undershirt beneath that utterly ruined whatever image he was going for with the scantily clad anime girl emblazoned on it.
Momohime uncomfortably turned her gaze away. There were some outfits she didn't know how people wore in public.
"If we're mistaken, then feel free to correct us." Demon Blade declared before narrowing her eyes. "In return, we'll teach you something as well. A lesson in attitude, that is."
"Demon Blade!" The aspiring exorcist hissed. "Don't fight with the other examinees!"
"If it were against the rules, then mister Odo over there would be stopping us right now." The swordsman gestured to the examiner who didn't even budge from where he was leaning back behind the counter. "But you're right, I don't wish to get into pointless fights."
"Neither do I. It's just pitiable after all." The man shook his head while clicking his tongue. "You idiots don't even understand how to pass this trial. If you're just going to flounder around like that then give up now."
He reached a button on his ears before his voice was filtered through a synthetic autotune. "DuMb aSS!"
"Alright you nerdy bastard!" Kei shouted, taking a step forward. "If you're so clever then why the hell are you on this floor, huh?!"
"Because I've completed the trial. DuH!" The ashen man declared, causing the aspiring exorcists to freeze. He began to walk to the counter, and the lackisdaisl examiner slowly adjusted his shades. "I'm turning the song in."
"What?! Bullshit!" The high schooler shouted. "There's no way you finished all seven floors that fast!"
"Did you actually think the song was split into that many parts? FuCkINg NoRMieS." He scoffed. "What kind of song could be split into seven? Let alone one you'd have to play like that? It'd be totally impractical for this exam."
"Oh?" Odo spoke up. "As far as I'm aware, the one on the seventh floor hasn't been defeated yet."
"I took one look at him and figured it out." The cocky man scoffed. "Not that hard when it's so blatantly obvious like that."
The examiner grunted, lips twitching upwards. "If you're so sure then let's give it a listen."
"Oh I'll let you listen alright." The man reached into his jacket pocket before slamming his smartphone onto the counter. "I've got it recorded right here. Don't want any LeACheS to piggyback off of my hard work."
"Why you…" Kei growled, only for Demon Blade's hand to shoot out and trap his arm in a vice grip. The young boy looked at her and the magical girl only shook her head. He grit his teeth and began to kick at the floor as Odo plugged his headphones into the smartphone and gave it a listen.
"Hm." Odo hummed. "There's a bit of improvisation here?"
"Yep. Thought it would give it a bit more FLaRe." The gray haired man spoke. "I call it 'Wanderings of a Mind'."
"It's my song you know."
"A cover then?"
"...I'll allow it." The examiner declared before holding out his hand. "Give me your packet."
With a flourish that was entirely unnecessary, the cocky man took his packet out of his pocket and handed it over. Odo looked it over a bit before pulling out a stamp and speaking. "Raizou Magari, Pass. The hints written on the paper. I'm going to guess by your outfit you want the Kunai next?"
"Right on the money." Raizou grinned, causing the examiner to nod before pressing something and handing the paper back to him. The cocky man gave his thanks, turning to leave Tower Records only to pause right before leaving the building. He gave the trio a side glance. "I'd help you out, but I'm not the kind of person who listens to ear grating things. LaTeR!"
"Then leave jackass!" Kei shouted, before fuming and turning to his partners. "Can you believe some people?! Complete pencil dick energy! I bet he's the kind of guy who tries to cancel people on twitter."
Momohime stared, trying to understand the incomprehensible nonsense coming out of the young boy's mouth. "E-Excuse me… what?"
"He's got that sort of vibe you know?" The blonde high schooler continued. "Like he thinks he's a chad, but is really just a virgin loser."
"Yeah!" Hanako cried as she popped in upside down through the ceiling. "You said it big bro! He's not bad enough to go on my enemies list, but that guy was a total jerk! Though you're a virgin too!"
"You didn't need to add that last part!"
"I-If you're in high school you shouldn't be having sex!" Momohime cried. "That's just, it's just wrong! Wait until you're older!"
"Or save it until you become a wizard!" Kei's youkai contractor popped in. "That way I'll be able to use magic too!"
"Oh just quit it already!" The blonde shouted before turning to the magical girl. "And I'm not serious, sorry. You'll get the jokes when you're older."
"Didn't you hear me when I said I was twenty three?!" Momohime shouted for what had to be the fifth time this week. This was getting old real fast.
"Seriously?! I thought you were fourteen! You're a magical girl and everything! Those girls aren't older than eighteen!"
Momohime paused, and was glad for the fact that flames didn't have tears to cry.
"Puberty was not kind to us." Demon Blade sighed. "But enough with the chitter chatter. Hanako, what can you tell us about the floors above?"
"Well… I want to say there's about three more that haven't been cleared. The good news is, none of them have as many instruments as the concert hall! The bad news is that they're all stronger than those guys." Hanako danced in the air as she plopped herself on Kei's shoulders. "There's the seventh floor but that guy is seriously tough so we shouldn't go there just yet!! The fifth floor is super boring and has about three or four enemies. Then there's my favorite floor! It also only has one guy but it's on, guess what, the third floor!"
"You serious?!" The high schooler's eyes widened. "And it has a-"
"Yep!"
"Alright!" He shouted before turning to Momohime. "There's a super powerful Art I can do that'll make this floor a cake walk! We gotta go right now!"
"Ka ka ka! Silly big bro! Did you forget already?" The bobcut girl laughed. "If you use that Art now, I'll be out of the fight for hm… I want to say the rest of the trial?"
"So it's a choice between clearing a floor without taking damage and handicapping Kei, or going through one with moderately tougher enemies and not trying to get hurt is that it?" Demon Blade asked before turning towards her reflection. "Which one do you think we should go with?"
"Um, well…" Momohime thought before nodding. "Well I think we should go with…"
[] Floor Five - Ska
[] Floor Three - Jazz
"We're doing recollection already? Well alrighty but y'all better be grateful for this."
+3 EXP Find Your Way
+10 EXP Met Ryuu Ondo
+8 EXP Met Kei Kagami/Toilet-Bound Hanako
+85 EXP That's a lotta Instruments
+8 EXP House aint got shit on us
+3 EXP Met Saki Onoda
+3 EXP Met Raizou Magari
[X] Exp Plan: Just having one ApT doesn't make a spell useless
-[X] Muramasa's Blade 3 -> 4 (30 exp)
-[X] Emblaze The Fire 2 -> 3 (20 exp) -[X] Missing Moment (50 XP)
"I think we should go with the fifth floor." Momohime quickly decided before turning to her fellow exorcist. "I appreciate the offer, but we should focus on conserving our strength to endure through the exam. If using that Art takes you out for the remainder of the trial then it should be used near the end."
"Got it, got it." The highschooler nodded before rolling his shoulders and turning to the examiner. "Hey are there any vending machines here? I can go for an energy drink after having to deal with the first floor."
Odo replied without even looking up from the desk. "They accept payment in yen."
"Who the fuck keeps yen on them anymore?!" Kei shouted. "I only have credits!"
Momohime blinked. Credits? What's that?
"Me." The examiner waved. "And be glad it's just yen. I've met some Youkai who don't accept payment in anything but mon."
"Um, I should have yen in my wallet." The green flame spoke up. Surprisingly however, it was Demon Blade that interrupted her next.
"There's no need to spend any money right now." The magical girl declared before pulling out a bag. "We have this, remember?"
"Ah! The medicine Kongiku gave us!" Momohime bobbed up and down in the air. "Um, will it really work though? It's supposed to restore… energy… Oh I get it now."
"Yes, it should serve as an adequate pick me up." Demon Blade replied as she popped a pill in her mouth and swallowed. Hey wait a minute, did she just take medicine without consulting Momohime?! It was her body too! If the swordsman heard this complaint, she merely ignored it as she opened the bag towards Kei. "Would you like to partake in some?"
"Er, no thanks. I'm good." Kei and surprisingly Hanako both leaned back as their faces scrunched up. "If it's anything like what Kouyou uses, I'm going to stay well clear of it."
"Your loss." Demon Blade shrugged before making her way to the stairs. "Now come along, the time for idle chit chat is over."
"We're taking the stairs again?!" Kei complained, though dutifully followed the magical girl as the group began their ascent. "It's on the fifth floor!"
"Yes?" The swordsman asked. "It's only five floors."
"Just ignore his whining." Hanako chimed in as she floated ahead. "Big bro was really weak when we first contracted!"
"I was moderately fit." Kei's protests were summarily ignored, leading to a rather comfortable silence until the blonde decided it was a good idea to face where Momohime floated in the air. "So… You're old right?"
"...I'm an adult?" The former office worker responded, giving him a confused glance.
"Same thing." The young boy waved. "Just, do you have any idea what the hell ska is?"
"I'm sorry, but no." Momohime's ethereal body swayed. "It's my first time I've heard of it either. I think it's got to be a music genre?"
"Pretty sure all the floors are music genres." Kei jabbed his thumb at the Jazz floor as the group passed it on the way up. "This is the trial of the headphones after all."
"Excuse me?" The spectral flame gave the closest it could to a blink. "The trials have names?"
"Nah, it's just something I came up with because it sounded cool." The high schooler admitted. "I mean I wouldn't be surprised considering it's Youkai we're talking about, but I think someone would've said something if that were the case."
"...How much do you know about Youkai anyways?" The aspiring exorcist asked. "N-Not that I'm doubting your abilities of course! It's just that I'm fairly new to all of this so I've been desperately cramming the text books but they're-"
"-Confusing as all hell?" Her fellow human nodded in shared sympathy. "Can't say I'm an expert either, I contracted a few months back when I graduated middle school. Most of my time has been spent just getting a grip on Hanako's abilities."
"That's still more then me." Momohime glanced away. "I only learned to project myself like this a few hours ago."
"Seriously?" Kei gave her a weird glance. "Demon Blade looked like an expert when it comes to arts though!"
"I've spent years honing my blade while Momohime lived in the weighted world." The magical girl in question spoke without looking back. "It was not until two weeks ago was she drawn into the Night World."
"Two weeks?!" Hanako's contractor shouted, head whipping from Momohime to her reflection and back again. "Magical Girls really are something else huh…"
"It's honestly a shock for me too." The girl in question muttered before spotting something through Demon Blade's eyes. "Looks like we're here. Everyone, brace yourself!"
The gang quickly crowded around the entrance, careful not to open it just yet. Both humans adjusted the headphones over their ears, just in case. The staircase remained dead quiet, but if it was anything like what the first floor was like that was just a prelude to a dreadful symphony. Some form of soundproofing? At times like these Momohime didn't know whether to be grateful for her ears' continued safety or curse that she couldn't hear if anything was happening on the other side.
"Excellent point." Demon Blade nodded along with her thought process before turning to face the floating Youkai. "Hanako, can you phase through the door before we enter?"
"No can do!" The bobcut girl denied. "Only reason I was able to scout ahead earlier was because big bro was taking a dump! Toilet-bound spirits can only travel through toilets! Ka ka ka!"
"...I suppose we will have to go in blind then." The swordsman's grip on the Muramasa Blade tightened as she glanced at the door in front of them. "Everyone, stand back."
Momohime suddenly felt an intense wave of deja vu assault her. "Wait you aren't thinking of-"
The flame couldn't finish as the blade was unsheathed in a blur. Before she could even take a breath, Demon Blade swiftly began to hack at the entry in front of her. Momohime's voice was swiftly cut down along with the door as it fell to the floor with a loud thump.
"Of course you are." The former office lady grumbled while her fellow contractor held the opposite reaction.
"Coooool." Hanako and Kei let out in unison.
"Doesn't appear to be any ambush waiting for us." The magical girl kicked down what remained of the door before entering the room with no hesitation. Unlike the big spacious halls of the first floor, what greeted them was instead a cozy little cafe with a single stage. The instruments were already there, a group of four brass instruments floating in the air in a mock up of performing a show. The music though, was the biggest change from the muted symphony. Instead of the oppressive, overpowering sound of tens of instruments playing different tunes at once, they were all playing the same thing. And in Momohime's opinion it was… "So banal."
"I wouldn't put it like that." The magical girl's reflection protested weakly, but she didn't disagree. If Classic was ear gratingly chaotic then Ska could only be described as mind numbingly boring. All four instruments played the same tune, the same harmony, over and over again with no change in rhythm. "At least it's peaceful I guess?"
"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing." Kei replied as he surveyed the cafe. "I guess we just split up and look for clues? I'm cool with just ambushing the instruments too though."
"I don't want to get into a fight we'll regret. Who knows if the condition for clearing the floor is the same as the Classic section." It probably wasn't, given how polar opposite the fifth floor was turning out to be. But then again, there was little else here too… "Ah! There's a person over there!"
Sitting tucked away in the back corner was a bored man, idly tapping away at the table as he jotted something down in his notebook. Somehow, he had yet to notice the group's presence, which was slightly worrying considering what happened the last time Momohime saw an examiner get trapped in a trance. As loud as she could (Which wasn't that loud since being a flame didn't come with lungs), Momohime cried out to him. "Um! Excuse me!"
"Huh? Oh." The man yawned as the magical girl and her reflection approached him. "'Sup. You guys here for the exam too?"
"Ah, yes." Momohime nodded, giving a side glance to Kei and Hanako who had begun to… Empty out the cash register? "We just arrived on this floor so-"
"You're wondering if I know anything. I gotcha." He sluggishly nodded. "Well, you see those instruments on stage?"
Momohime blinked before turning to where he was pointing. "I see them."
"Yeah, well, they exist."
There was a beat of silence before Demon Blade raised an eyebrow. "...Is that all?"
"It's the most I've managed to figure out." The man pointed at his notebook before picking up a piece of paper and waving it through the air. "There's a 'menu' you can pick up over at the counter. It's a hint for sure but I've spent the past ten minutes just sitting here trying to figure it out."
Momohime floated to where the paper was. "Excuse me, can I see that?"
The man silently shrugged before holding the paper in the air and turning back to his notebook. "If you manage to figure something out then let me know, kay?"
The aspiring exorcist bobbed in the air before turning her attention to the paper.
TODAY'S MENU: SKA
Special offer for every fourth customer!
Key: C
Time: 4:4
Saxophone: (1+3+5) = 4
Trumpet: 8 - 8 = 16
Trombone: 4 + 4 = 2
Horn: REST
...What? Momohime barely knew what she was looking at. Math? Numbers? No that couldn't be the case, but what it was supposed to be was flying over her head right now.
"Confusing isn't it, miss Hitodama?" Closing his eyes, the man took a deep breath and listened to the performance. "The answer has got to do with the instruments but thinking is just… so… tiring…"
The ethereal flame let out a sudden shriek as the examinee's head suddenly crashed into the table, a loud bang echoing through the room. Demon Blade's hands instantly shot forward as she rushed towards the man's side, letting out a sigh before turning towards Momohime. "It's fine. He merely passed out--m?"
Despite the fact that her magical girl self held control of her body, Momohime felt a shiver crawl down her spine and her hair stand on end. Her intuition was screaming at her as the atmosphere grew thicker. Together as one, swordsman and exorcist turned towards the stage once more. Something had changed since they had looked away, no it was obvious what it was. With each instrument playing the same harmony, it was incredibly too easy to not notice one slipping away.
"Demon Blade…" Momohime muttered worriedly as she surveyed the cafe in the places where her eyes couldn't see.
"Get ready." The swordsman simply said. "I have the feeling that the time for investigation is over."
All of the instruments had turned towards them, save for the missing saxophone, lost within the cafe. Demon Blade's grip on her blade tightened as she placed herself into a ready stance. In the corner of her eyes, she could see it. The glint of metallic brass, weaving in and out through the sea of chairs. Yet every time Momohime thought she could find it, the instrument was gone.
No, her eyes couldn't find it, but her ears could. It was covered by the song of it's companions, but the Sax's own tune wasn't gone. Faint it may be, but at the same time it was growing closer with each passing second. It was almost as if it were toying with them, building towards something as it waited for the crescendo. But what? If it wanted to attack her it could've done so the moment she entered the room- No, that wasn't the instrument's style. Even though the ones on the first floor had also gone on the offensive, they lured in their prey first with their songs. And the person who had heard the song the most was… It clicked.
Momohime's mind raced as instinct and logic blurred together, sharpening her intuition as she began to hunt the hunter. Where it was, and where it was going, it was all becoming clear to her. All she needed to do was wait for her cue. One. Two. Three.
"Now!" She screamed, Demon Blade already on the move, kicking the man out of his chair and knocking him to the floor as a blur of brass shot up from the floor. The saxophone lunged through air, it's presses flapping in rage as it crashed back down, sinking into the wood as if it were water. Momohime grimaced before turning towards the examinee. "We need to get him out of here!"
"On it." The magical girl exclaimed as she picked up his limp body before turning to the other contractor in the room. "You two! Catch!"
"Huh--woah!" The high schooler shouted as Demon Blade tossed the man towards them. "How do you expect me to catch a living person!?"
"Ka! Ka! Ka! Don't worry big bro! I got it!" Hanako shouted, only for the swordsman's eyes to catch sight of something chasing after the body.
As if.
Muramasa Blade: 200 Base Damage, +50 Dice = 250 Total Damage
Brass: 210 Resilience, +N/A Dice = 210 Total Reduction
40 End Damage
Brass: 1300 - 40 = 1260 Remaining Health
Muramasa Blade: 651 + 10 = 661 Remaining Health
The Muramasa Blade swung forward, it's steel crashing into the dirty gold of the saxophone. Sounds of blood lust rang through the air as Demon Blade sent the instrument flying back towards the floor. The instrument barely regarded it as a scratch, but it still paused to do the equivalent of glaring at her. Rust and stains began to corrode its exterior as a high pitched note cut through the previously quaint cafe. Suddenly, an unseen drum began to beat through the room. The instrument's keys began to press at an alarming rate, the song coming from it's bell a battle cry that rallied it's fellow band members together.
"It changed its tune…?" Momohime muttered to herself as Hanako caught the soaring man in the air.
"Gotcha!" She cried before the toilet bound ghost turned towards the aspiring exorcist. "What now?!"
"Um." The flame glanced at the ruins of the door her reflection had cut down. They hadn't heard anything from the outside so… Oh, Momohime hoped she was right about this. "Get him out of the room!"
Hanako shot towards the door, her tiny frame carrying the fully grown man with ease. Unfortunately, the brass instruments took offense to that as the trombone popped out of the ground, attempting to hook Youkai's feet with it's slide. "Ah! Nope! Big Bro help me out!"
"You can do it yourself you lazy ass!" Kei snapped back but dashed forward to his partner's defense anyways. "Fuck it! "Privacy Invasion!"
Cost: 100 HP
Kei Kagami: 1100 - 100 = 1000 Remaining Health.
The scent of metal was tinged with the scent of rot as the high school boy's hands once more cracked, stretched, and morphed into grotesque lizard heads once more. Their teeth gripping onto the trombone's slide, his muscles bulging as he fished the brass instrument out of the ground before locking his other hand's jaw around it's bell. Dirty yellow fangs sunk into the trombone as it began to corrode.
Privacy Invasion: 285 Base Damage, +N/A Dice = 285 Total Damage
Brass: 210 Base Resilience, +N/A Dice, -53 Armor Pierce = 157 Total Reduction
128 End Damage
Brass: 1300 - 128 = 1172 Remaining Health
"Thanks!" Hanako cheered as she flew out the door and dropped the slumbering examinee on the ground like a sack of potatoes. Despite the chaos, the man didn't stirr from his sleep, but Momohime's attention was focused elsewhere.
Namely, at the trombone that thrashed and struggled in Kei's grip, changing tunes as a more frantic and energetic melody escaped from its bell. Somewhere off stage, a guitar joined the fray as the music that initially seemed so static began to turn frantic.
"Again?" Momohime asked herself before turning towards her reflection. "Can you attack the Saxophone again? I need to check something."
"Understood." Demon Blade declared as her Sword began to cut through air, slicing towards the instrument. The saxophone attempted to dodge and weave through the swings, only for the swordsman to change her trajectory at the last moment as the clanging of metals joined the festivities once more.
Muramasa Blade: 200 Base Damage, +51 Dice = 251 Total Damage
Brass: 210 Resilience, +N/A Dice = 210 Total Reduction
41 End Damage
Brass: 1300 - 40 = 1219 Remaining Health
Muramasa Blade: 661 + 10 = 671 Remaining Health
With the rattling of battle, the instrument's corrosion began to fade away as it seemed to… calm down? Momohime found it a bit difficult to ascribe emotions to the faceless instruments but that's what it seemed to do as the melody it had been blasting in her face transitioned back into the calm chords that blended together with the rest of the instruments.
Demon Blade nodded before turning back to Momohime. "Are you satisfied?"
The flame nodded before wavering, mentally going over the information in her head. Going from the top of the menu, the special offer could be referring to the fact that only one of the four instruments held the song part they were looking for. Momohime was still trying to figure out what the numbers meant but since they were dealing with song… Could 'Rest' be referring to the musical note? When taken into account the fact that the instruments swapped tunes back and forth whenever they were hit, then could it be that they had to align the instruments with the menu? "If that's the case… This Momohime is a bit uncertain, but I think I have something?"
"Then you better hurry up and tell us!" Kei shouted as the trumpet tried to bash his head in, causing the trombone to escape from his grasp before attempting to stab through his chest with it's slide. "It's like the faster these things play, the more aggressive they are!"
The aspiring exorcist blinked. Faster? No, they were playing more but these instruments weren't going any faster. This wasn't anything like the chaotic cacophony of the classical floor. They were all playing in synch with each other, keeping to the beat--
"The time section!" She exclaimed. "I get it now!"
"Is that so? Then give the order and I shall follow." The swordsman nodded. "Whatever the consequence, I'll bear it for you."
"...Thanks?" Momohime smiled before shouting as loud as she could. "Everyone, listen up! The answer to this floor is--!"
[] Insert Answer
AN: Smallest update yet, also the worst update yet? Why? Because the puzzle here is gosh darn terrible. I know it, and you'll probably know it once you start trying to solve it. But the beta and I have been bashing our heads against this thing for like three days now and we just decided to toss it out there. We are willing to make adjustments based on player feedback though. Give it a shot and tell us what you think.
This most defenitly isn't us giving up we are respectable QMs who would never do such a thing no sir.
Twenty minutes later, two tried fighters, one sympathetic youkai, and a depressed flame spirit exited the fifth floor.
"I really thought that was it…" Momohime muttered to herself.
"There there." Hanako patted the flame spirit, though the exorcist trainee was a bit confused as to how she could actually feel the young girl's hand touch her projection. "It was probably better than anything big bro would have thought up!"
"Don't just diss me right after we cleared the floor!" Kei shouted spiritedly, although from the way he slumped against the wall he was just as exhausted as the rest of them. "We're just lucky that we somehow managed to clear the puzzle anyways by luck."
The flame sighed. "Honestly I'm not even sure what the puzzle was."
Hanako and her countracter both looked at each other before speaking in unison. "Probably something stupid."
"It matters not what the question was, merely that we found the answer." Demon Blade spoke as she popped another medicinal pill in her mouth.
"Please stop eating pills like they're senzu beans, that's my body you're messing with." It was as if someone force fed her coffee! Sure the black broth was something you used for the occasional pick me up, but you wouldn't like it if your boss forced it down your throat so you could stay awake another hour or two! Wait, Was that an oddly specific example? Momohime could vaguely recall such an incident from her company days.
The former office lady's thoughts were interrupted as a loud gong sounded throughout the building. The ticking time of a clock causing the walls to vibrate as the sound shook Momohime to her very core.
"...The hell was that?" The blonde let out, causing the swordsman to swallow the pill before her eyes narrowed.
"Does anyone know where the nearest clock is?" Demon Blade asked.
"Uh, let me check." Kei reached into his jacket before flashing his smartphone. "This work for you?"
The magical girl squinted her eyes at the screen before sighing. "I see, so an hour has already passed."
An hour had passed? Honestly this night felt a lot longer than that, but the way Demon Blade was saying it felt like there was something important about the time-
"Ah!" Momohime exclaimed. "The youkai! They've released the first youkai!"
"They what!?" Kei exclaimed.
The exorcist trainee looked at her fellow contractor before remembering what happened during the opening. "It was part of the rules for the exam! Every hour or so they'll unseal a youkai and release it into the city!"
"Goddammit Kouyou! I've missed all the important shit!" No, it was your own fault for making her mad in the first place. "Wait, a minute, this is youkai we're talking about right? How can they just be walking around without a contractor?"
"Kakaka! Don't be silly big bro! If they're walking around without a contractor it's because they've already devoured them and become a stage 2 youkai!" Hanako laughed as she spun in the air. "Though the master of night and day is running this exam, so it could just be Shikigami."
"Shikigami?" Momohime blinked. She knew the term from mythology, but she wasn't sure how exactly it applied to the night world.
"Oh yeah it's this cool trick Onmyouji came up with, sort of a pseudo contract." Hanako nodded. "Was it something about sacrificing some of their weight to create a binding for youkai to temporarily exist in the weighted world without causing a contract? Eh, I'm not really sure on the details but I've heard some of them can get really strong! Like the big guy on the seventh floor!"
"We can discuss this later. Right now we have a more pressing matter on our hands." Demon Blade interrupted. "This is only the first trial of the exam and we've already been here for an hour."
"...And we don't know how long the other trials will take." Momohime finished her reflection's thoughts. "Furthermore, there are two floors left to complete the song."
"Yeah but Hanako and I can take out floor three no problem." Kei countered. "it might take a few extra minutes but we can get the job done real quick."
"Yes but that'll leave you handicapped for the rest of the trial." The flame argued before turning to the toilet spirit in question. "By the way, how strong is this um, 'Shikigami'."
"Like I said, he's probably the toughest thing here!" The bobcut girl said. "I'm sure with your Blade Arts you stand a chance but it's going to be a tough fight!"
A tough fight huh… Did they even have to risk it? There were only two floors left. It could just be a fifty-fifty chance on which one had the remaining song piece. Well, as much as she'd like to believe that, Momohime couldn't deny the truth. Memories of the conversation between the examiner and that silver haired man flashed. What was that he had said when Raizo was turning in his answer again?
"As far as I'm aware, the one on the seventh floor hasn't been defeated yet."
"The seventh floor is the key to this trial." The princess declared as she made her decision. "We need to get through this fast and decisively. We might be able to swing around towards the third floor on the way down, but if anything goes wrong then we only serve to lose time. And if it helps, we might not even have to fight it. Our track record might not be the best but this Momohime is confident that we can figure out the crucial clue of any puzzle."
There was a moment of silence as everyone turned to stare at Momohime. She fidgeted nervously as her flame wiggle waggled through the air. "That is um, if it's alright with you guys."
"If that is what you wish, then I have no objections." Demon Blade nodded her head silently, though she did glance at Momohime before giving her a small smile.
"Well it's not like I've got any other plans." Kei scratched the back of his head. "Sorry but I've kind of been following you guys for this whole exam since you two seem to actually know what's going on."
"Kakaka! If Big bro is in then I'm in!" Hanako cheered. "It's a shame I can't show off my full power but oh well!"
"Then it's decided!" Momohime nodded. "To the seventh floor! Hurry!"
Every let out a cheer in their own way, including the crumpled man on the ground who was still sleeping soundly. "Gahehehe…"
Had- Had he been here this entire time? And he was still asleep?
"Careful not to trip." Momohime thought to Demon Blade as the gang began to climb the staircase upwards as fast as she could. She was sure the examiners would take care of him. Probably.
Moving as fast as they could, youkai, contractors, and a magical girl climbed to the very top of this modified dreamscape of a Tower Records. It wasn't that far from where they had been, but it was still two more floors higher before they finally managed to see the door with the simple words written on it. "Floor Seven - Karaoke"
No sound could be heard from the room, but for some reason Momohime could feel a strange chill engulf the air as they stood outside of the metal door. The music felt hostile, tearing at the listener's ears with jagged edges before they even heard the first note.
Demon Blade moved to cut down the door only for Kei to raise his hand and bend over, gasping for breath. "Wait… Give me… A moment…"
"For an aspiring exorcist you sure are out of shape." Demon Blade commented, causing the teenager to glare.
"Fuck off! We've been fighting for an hour and you're a magical girl! Do you know how hard it is to keep up with you?!" Kei shouted. "And you're the one who keeps popping those medicinal pills!"
"Are you sure that you don't want any?" The swordsman offered, holding out the bag.
The blonde stared at it with trepidation before his partner finally floated over next to him and promptly kicked him in the head. "Oh stop being so stubborn big bro!"
"Ow! Fine! Give me that!" Kei grumbled. Though despite his attitude, the Magical Girl simply obliged as she passed him a pill. He took it down in one gulp before sighing. "Oh. Oh wow! I'm feeling better already! Are you sure this is kitsune medicine?!"
"Well." Demon Blade put the medicine back who knows where. "Kitsune are notorious tricksters."
The high schooler blinked before raising his fist in the air. "Kouyou!"
"Um, save your new energy for the fight." Momohime chimed in before turning towards the door. "I have a feeling we're going to need it."
The magical girl stepped forward. By this point, Momohime already knew what her reflection was going to do. A single stroke, and yet another door was broken down. However, as if noticing their presence. Whatever sound was being played came to an abrupt stop. In front of them, was just a room full of pitch black darkness.
Cautiously they put their headphones back on and entered, walking past the threshold and into the darkness. The room was cold, a creeping chill that curled down their spines. The only thing they could do was keep walking forward, ready to fight at any moment. And then-
A spotlight shined, illuminating the center stage as they heard a deep, bass voice speak. "Lemme tell you a little something."
On the stage was a man- No, it was a figure shaped like a man and dressed like a man but it fundamentally wasn't human. Beneath it's suave suit was a body of machinery and wires, slick, smooth, and shining from the light. With its presence, a low hum echoed throughout the room, resonating deep within their body as it lifted it's head and stared them in the eye. It was only then did Momohime realize what she was looking at. Was it an instrument? Yes, it was, but it was twisted and distorted more than even the nightmare piano. For the only thing that resembled its natural shape was its head. A boxy, metallic cage with dials surviving as it's eyes.
"A microphone…" Momohime whispered out, and immediately the creature whipped it's head at her before lunging into the darkness. A fuzzy static rumbled in her ears before the flame heard it's voice from behind her.
"You better run, run, run, here I come." It sang, but there was no emotion in its voice. Nothing human about it as it whipped back it's head before unleashing a high pitched scream directly into her ear. "NOWHERE TO ESCAPE UNDER THE SUN!"
Fear Applied!
Momohime shrieked, loudly. The sound ripped through her mind, causing her projection to collapse, sending her straight back to her own body. She had no control, couldn't move, couldn't cover her ears, couldn't getthat voice out of her head! The static was overwhelming, scraping at the inside of her skull. A piercing buzzed that defended her ears and left her alone in the darkness.
"Get a hold of yourself Momohime!" Her reflection thought, but she couldn't. On the inside, where Magical Girl Demon Blade couldn't control, Momohime Tsukigami wasn't shaking. A gnawing feeling had been jabbed into her heart, infecting her from the inside and out and paralyzing her very thoughts. "Tch! It's no use! She can't hear me!"
"The hell was that?!" Kei screamed, flailing in the dark. "Hanako what's going on?!"
"Kakaka! Someone sacrificed a lot to make this Shikigami!" The youkai grinned. "Make sure your headset doesn't fall off big bro! It's attacks have some pretty nasty effects!"
As if on cue, the spotlight reappeared in a different location. The microphone man stared back at them, as if taunting them to try again. There was a bit of static before it spoke, a faux-cocky voice coming out in a sing-song tone. "I'm ready to go anytime I'm feeling the flow."
Silently, Demon Blade took a stance. The Muramasa Blade growling in her hands as she stared at the creature in front of her. There was only one thing on the magical girl's mind. Momohime still deaf to the world around her, fear staining her heart even as Demon Blade controlled her breathing. A burning heart lit the candle, smoke clouding her mind. In response to the Shikigami's taunts, Magical Girl Demon Blade had only one response.
"Very well, my blade will exorcise your demons."
The creature in front of her, the twisted microphone distorted into a mockery of it's own singer. For daring to defile her princess, she would cut it down where it stood.
The final battle for the trial of the headphones had begun.
[] Bash in it's skull!
[] Lure the creature out.
[] Write in
AN: If you're wondering what happened to the puzzle... Don't. Just don't. Trust me it's not worth it. There's an explanation in the thread but it's really not worth looking up the answer too. Also haha managed to get the update before a month had passed at the last minute! Considering how small this update I really could've written this anytime but I've actually been really busy for the past month. Not with anything actually important though, just been writing my ass off with other stuff. Speaking of, I do in fact have a patreon now! Yipee!
Anyways to make a long story short, the exorcist exam really needs to be shortened up so the other trials will probably not be as long as this one. I want to at least finish it this year you know?! What? It's my fault for not writing more? Uh, hey look a boss fight!
Scheduled vote count started by InfiniteDaze on May 12, 2021 at 4:39 PM, finished with 10 posts and 5 votes.
