"So, Glynda," you say, deciding to jump straight into it, "you mentioned this 'Aura' thing earlier. What's that?"
The woman sits directly across from you, in the back of the flying car. Glynda sighs, a deep, suffering sound. You frown. "What?"
"Of course you wouldn't know," she says. "What kind of backstreets did you come from, that you wouldn't know what Aura was?"
You're pretty sure she doesn't know what the Backstreets are. But you stay silent, wait for her to clarify for you. She said she was the headmistress of a school. She'll be willing to educate. Probably.
"Aura is the manifestation of one's soul," she eventually lectured, with the experience of someone who'd done it a thousand times before. "It augments one's physical capabilities and protects the user from harm. It can be trained in a number of ways to improve one's combat prowess: reflexes, speed, physical strength, etcetera. Do you call it something else? Or do you not have it unlocked?"
…huh. You've never claimed to understand E.G.O.. How it's extracted from Abnormalities, how it manifests. The science (magic?) behind it is beyond your limited education. Carmen always knew more than you about that. But you remember what little she told you that you could understand. These two could easily be the same thing.
"...it sounds familiar," you admit, slowly, trying to piece things together. "Not a common thing, where I come from. We call it E.G.O., it's a shortening for something, don't remember. Wordplay. The shell of one's consciousness."
Glynda hums, surprised. "Not the term I would have used for it, but appropriate. I take it, then, that your sword is a form of this 'E.G.O.'? A Semblance? And not literally made from a human being's muscles and organs?"
"Yeah, pretty much," you answer honestly. "I can't tell you the details of how it was extracted; only that it's a powerful weapon. Served me well, though I wouldn't recommend anyone else use it."
It takes a great amount of will to ignore its frenzied ramblings, after all. To not succumb to its desire to 'be human'. You don't know the consequences for what would happen if someone non-fortitudinous were to try to wield it. You are certain it wouldn't be pretty.
"Extracted?"
Hm. How much to say here. Carmen never made a huge secret of the Outskirts laboratory, the experiments conducted there. Neither did she shout of its existence from the rooftops for the Head to hear. If this place is as remote as you suspect it is, sharing should be fine.
"From a creature called an Abnormality," you explain. "A creature born from the human subconscious. This sword is the embodiment of its ego, its E.G.O.. Mimicry."
Glynda shows no signs of understanding. If anything, she looks even more confused.
"I can't explain the technology used to do it," you try, "though I figure it could eventually be a Singularity. Do you have those out here?"
"..."
The blonde doesn't seem to know what to say, clearly deep in thought. Miris, listening off to the side, eventually breaks the silence.
"You are talking about different things."
Two heads turn towards the red haired Fixer that isn't you.
"Glynda is referring to a certain power she possesses that grants her telekinesis," Miris says. "Innate to her and this place we have found ourselves in." He turns to Glynda, continuing, "The Red Mist, meanwhile, is referring to her powerful equipment, which I saw manifested earlier today. Distinctly different. Two completely different coins, rather than two sides of the same."
Taking Miris's analysis into account, you give Glynda another once-over. Before, viewing her at a distance, vision filtered through her purple telekinesis, you couldn't tell. But now that she's less than a meter away from you, you can make out a very slight sheen, all across her body. Not from sweat, but something else entirely. Unnoticeable to all but the keenest eye. A forcefield? You suppose this is her 'Aura'
Huh. That explains it. Man, don't you feel stupid.
Glynda's face, too, sparks in realization. Miris returns to absently gazing at Xiao.
"Should probably make some things clear, then. Avoid misunderstandings like this," you decide. "I come from the Backstreets of the City. Don't know what that is, then you're really far away from it and I'm not sure how I got here. Been working in a lab in the Outskirts of the City. Pretty sure this is just a really faraway part of the Outskirts. You call it 'Remnant'? Could you tell me more?"
You don't know how to describe the City to someone with no knowledge of it. It's just so… large. All-encompassing. Cruel. Better off not trying, if you can get away with it.
Glynda, thankfully, lets you. "Yes. Let's see…"
She mutters something about oobleck(???) before continuing, "Remnant is a world of four kingdoms, as well as numerous smaller villages within. Vale, the Kingdom we are currently in. Followed by Mistral, Atlas, and Vacuo. Each Kingdom is governed by a Council, and contains a major Academy, to train Huntsmen and Huntresses—I believe they would be similar to 'Fixers', as you put them?"
"Are they usually fighters? Combatants for hire?" you ask. You're well aware that there are non-combat Fixers, ones focused on intel or insurance or even menial chores. But you're pretty sure that Glynda mostly means the combat-focused ones.
"Both," Glynda answers, confirming your suspicions. You nod.
"Huntsmen and Huntresses train to uphold the law and combat the Grimm, an ever-present force of death and destruction. Monsters, mainly found outside the Kingdoms. Vale is an exception to that, at this very moment, though we are working on a solution."
So even the Outskirts have their Outskirts. You nod again. "Thank you for your explanation."
"It was no problem. Fascinating, to meet someone from another world."
"Not another world," you correct. "Just far from home."
"Given you don't even know the name of the planet, yet alone the Kingdoms and Academies, you may as well be."
She has a point. But you stay silent, incensed. Glynda doesn't seem to have anything else to say at the moment, pulling a strange thin device out of her pocket and looking at it. You peer at it, briefly, before recognizing that it is covered in writing. You can't read.
Your gaze turns sideways. Miris has tuned out, eyes mostly unfocused.
Come to think of it, you've still got some questions for him. And some lies to clear up.
"Hey. Miris. What can you tell me about the Library?"
Asking about the place where you'd died seems like a good start.
He snaps to attention. "The Library? Is that where you died?"
"Yes," you say, blinking. "Seems like you've heard of it."
"It's a recent Star of the City. Likely soon to be exalted to an Impurity, given the inhumanity of its Director. It makes no sense for you to have died there. Its first appearance was long after your recorded disappearance."
"Huh," you say, unable to think of much else.
"It was born from the ruins of L Corp's Nest. It consumed a number of smaller Fixer Offices, Syndicates, and then moved on to major Associations as it rose in threat rating. Shi South Section 2, then Liu 1 and 2. A large chunk of the Thumbs' southern operations. Even the Purple Tear. The main reason for its rapid expansion was the ability to take and use the power and skill of defeated 'guests', and combine them together in new and unexpected ways."
That explains the sheer variety of uniforms you'd seen, during your time there. Never otherwise would expected to see the Thumb and Index fighting alongside the Liu and Shi Associations.
Hold the train on that thought. Did he really…
"The Purple Tear?" you ask, surprise catching up to you. "It seriously caught Iori?"
Strictly speaking, you're likely stronger than the dimension-walking Color. In terms of physical strength, anyway. But if it came down to a fight… Iori is one of the few people in the City that could best you. She's faster than you, trickier. Something going on with her and knowing the odds are not in your favor. Even if you can overpower her in a straight conflict most of the time, that simply means she would never get into a head-to-head confrontation. She'd wind around your strongest blows, strike at your openings. Wear you down with calculated strikes at your weakest points.
"Yes," Miris answers. "Xiao and I encountered a Librarian using her body and skills. They were diminished, but still formidable."
If she really died in the Library… A serious threat. The ability to defeat two Colors is nothing to scoff at. Then again, you could've told anyone that yourself. It's no joke to take down just the Red Mist.
…Assuming Miris's telling the truth. Though, at this point, given what you know of him this far… you can't imagine why he would lie.
His loyalty is… really quite impressive, for this City. You know a number of disgusting Fixers and Syndicate members that would turn coat on their supposed 'allies', when faced with Mimicry's edge, whether out of fear, respect, or sheer self-preservation. It never helped them.
You glance down at the fallen Director. The bleeding's stopped, much to Glynda's obvious relief. Her face is almost calm, sleeping. You could almost believe she was any other Fixer.
What did she do to deserve this man's undying loyalty?
"I'm assuming that you, too, fought and died in the Library?" you ask. "What for?"
"To retrieve the books of Liu South Section 2, despite orders to the contrary. That of Lowell's, in particular. Her husband. Mei and Cecil, as well."
A love story? In this City?
Maybe things have changed more than you think. Miris seems largely indifferent to the topic, you note, though.
"You sound like you don't approve," you say.
"The Director's passion… it's one of the things I've always admired about her. Even before the White Nights, she would fight for and mourn her comrades to a degree I cannot match. If only in private."
You don't know what the White Nights he refers to are. But he seems to be in the middle of something. And you're not inclined to interrupt.
"Her fervor led her to find love, as true as any can be in this City. And even if I don't understand it—can't, in all likelihood. I will not deny her this small pleasure. Even the whitest jade has a flaw. And unless Lowell is truly gone for good, something which I am certain is not the case, she will recover from this."
He has the surety of a mountain, unmovable and unshakeable. The courage of his convictions.
Or just blind overconfidence.
"You sound like you've known her for a long time," you say.
"More than ten years," he confirms. "Chun, Xiao, and I… I wonder where he is."
You don't know.
"I hope she finds what she is looking for," you finally say.
"I do too," Miris replies.
Glynda announces your arrival at the hospital shortly thereafter. Looking around as you step out of the flying vehicle, your surroundings are reminiscent of the City in a number of ways. Tight-packed buildings. Armed crowds and guards.
The biggest difference is the colors. Everything is bright and garish and colorful, from people's hair to their clothes to the buildings themselves.
Another thing you can't help but note are the firearms. Nearly everyone carries a firearm. Almost all of it, aside from minor sidearms and the occasional strange melee weapon, is too high-calibre, too destructive to be approved by the Head.
You offer to help carry Xiao into the hospital, but it turns out to be unnecessary. Two men emerge from the doors with a gurney between them, giving you and your weapon a quick stare before deciding it's none of their business. With some help from Miris, they load the black-haired Fixer onto it and wheel her into the hospital. Miris follows, leaving you and Glynda alone outside.
"I'm afraid I don't know your name," Glynda says.
Huh, did you never tell her? Come to think of it, you're pretty sure Miris doesn't know it either.
"Sorry. I'm Kali," you say, vaguely sheepish. You hold out your free hand, and she shakes it.
"Kali. I have a proposition for you. Despite the confusion on the Bullhead, you do not possess Aura, correct?"
"No, I don't think so. E.G.O. seems like a separate thing entirely, from what I've noticed."
"And Miris called you a hero, a protector. I assume that means the same thing where you come from as it does here? Fighting back the forces of evil and protecting goodhearted people?"
You choose your words carefully. Life has made you a bit of a cynic on this topic. "I protect the weak from those that would prey on them. Goodhearted or not. And usually not."
"Hm. Interesting answer. In which case, I believe I have a job for you."
"Oh?"
She's ready to hire you, so soon? You would've figured there would be more suspicion involved. Especially given the misunderstanding of your first meeting. What kind of read does she have on your personality?
"Beacon Academy is, at the moment, completely infested by creatures of Grimm, with more coming every single day—if you don't know what those are, I can educate you later. In short, they're bloodthirsty monsters out for the destruction of humanity and civilization as we know it. We've slowly been pushing them back, but it's painstaking, fighting for one city block at a time.
"A skilled Huntsman can fight or sneak their way past most of them, to the central tower, and several have. Only for local communications to be shut off, and for their bodies to never be seen again."
You can see where this is going.
"I was going to go myself at some point, but your arrival has presented us with an opportunity. From what I can tell, you are stronger than most Huntresses. I believe you stand a fair chance of finding this malevolent force and putting an end to it. With that gone, there is a chance that we could get the Cross-Continental Transit System up and running again, once we push back the Grimm enough. Reestablish global communications. And also deal with the Wyvern on top of the tower, but that's a whole different story right now."
Interesting pitch. Glynda seems to believe what she's saying, here, by your read. A legitimate request. You do have one important question, though.
"What do I get out of it? In terms of payment? I'm not even sure I know the local currency."
You realize that admitting as such basically allows her to screw you over any which way, if she so chose. You're fairly inclined to do this job anyway, though. Anything's a good starting point, find a way back to the Outskirts lab. You'd like more information first, obviously.
"One, I'll unlock your Aura before you go," Glynda states. "You don't seem to need it, but it rarely hurts to have an additional layer of protection. Two, there is a monetary reward—I don't remember how much, but it's in the thousands of Lien. Half on start and half on mission completion. Third, I am arguably one of the most knowledgeable people on Remnant alive, at this moment. Aside from James, I am perhaps your best option for finding a way home. Vale's resources are stretched thin, but if you help us with this, we'll see what we can do to help."
That is a very tempting offer. You don't know how much Lien 'thousands' is, how it translates to An. But assuming there's a standardized system here, Canard or Urban Nightmare or Star of the City, it's probably not explicitly a rip-off.
Your only other source of information on current events is Miris. Who seems as lost as you are, save for his one guiding beacon of Xiao.
And even if it is the highest rank of mission… you can likely handle it.
Then again. That's what you thought about the Library. And look where you are now.
Your mind is, frankly, already made up. There is only the smallest niggling of doubt.
[ ] Accept the offer.
- [ ] Additional concessions?
[ ] Reject the offer.
A/N: Whoof. Close one. I'm not entirely happy with the way this chapter turned out. But if it helps, I can't blow everything out of the water on the first conversation.
Anyway. Next chapter has a fair shot of being an interlude.
Any ideas as for what the Beacon Tower threat is? I'll admit, I only figured out what I was doing here yesterday, more or less.
interlude written for quite awhile, posted it in a couple of Discords. 'Twas fun to finally find a use for it, and this early. Granted, I figured that I'd eventually find the opportunity while writing this Quest, too much Kali in it not to.