Whoo boy, that's a long way from home
I wonder whether we'll get a 'return' ability, learn to master Voyage enough to decide where we go, or be doomed to jump around time randomly
Adelheid Schmeling is a human, a Magical Girl, transported from Earth by her own action and inaction. But was it truly random? After all, is she not a weapon of Gaia (not WEAPON but weapon), present within the latter's World Sphere at the time of casting?
It is supposed to be some 3000 BC, and the very foundations of modern history are yet to be truly laid. Suddenly, Gaia can witness and observe the product of millenia of effort on her part in action. Would not her modern self endeavor to give her past self a leg up on the eventual design goal if she could?
We know Gaia uses UD girls as her intel network even while her humanity is technically UL aligned. If this was her plan, then she is giving her past self an insight into operation of all dimensional neighbors, which wouldn't change all that much due to their usual perchant for not being innovative.
Gaia would come out of no-magic zone prepared.
Also, as far as time gambits go in this universe (and wasn't it helpful from Crystalwatcher to explain?) this is almost foolproof. So far in the past, so far from Gaia itself, no records exist for the Fold to be endangered. And, since Defiance knows nothing, she is the perfect unknowing messenger.
Isn't it the other way around? IIRC The Fold is what conserves continuity and what breaks with paradox. With no knowledge of the past, no paradox can truly be introduced. The Fold is inviolate there I think.
That's not quite what I meant though. I meant specifically the "cast Voyage out of spontaneous desire, then freeze while it's moving into your face because your instincts tell you it is not dangerous".
Those two passages in italics could be interpreted as Gaia being a ridiculously good improvisation master, who took advantage of Heidi becoming a magical girl with those specific powers in just the few minutes she had.
Or more illustratively: "Hey, a newbie girl, Defiance! What's she can? Oh, what? Time Travel?! Okay, send-a-message-to-the-past is a go!"
That's not quite what I meant though. I meant specifically the "cast Voyage out of spontaneous desire, then freeze while it's moving into your face because your instincts tell you it is not dangerous".
The second one... Heidi did not freeze because her instincts told her anything. The portal appeared and did its thing almost instantaneously, with maybe a hearbeat between appearing and swallowing her; without knowing what would happen, Heidi had no chance to actually react to it.
I usually do not mind unusual theories, but Gaia being the mastermind behind everything is... no. I do not want this to go there at all for various reasons that would take too long (and probably some spoilers) to actually list here.
Isn't it the other way around? IIRC The Fold is what conserves continuity and what breaks with paradox. With no knowledge of the past, no paradox can truly be introduced. The Fold is inviolate there I think.
It's impossible to break the Fold if you don't even know you time traveled.
Our MC knows that the UD shouldn't yet know about Humans or Magical Girls, so she has reason to believe that simply saying where she's from is causing a paradox.
She might not be breaking the Fold, if a Bootstrap Paradox or something is involved, but there's little reason for her to suspect that.
At the very least, the Fold is under a lot more strain now.
What's truly mysterious though is the question of when we broke the Glass.
Interesting. Well, it seems likely that Defiance has the Time affinity given how she's time traveled. Anyone want to guess what her other Affinities are?
I usually do not mind unusual theories, but Gaia being the mastermind behind everything is... no. I do not want this to go there at all for various reasons that would take too long (and probably some spoilers) to actually list here.
she can only take advantage of what powers MGs have.
but she can't have known what powers our protagonist had, because she herself did not know.
Gaia only gets to know what any human knows. And none knew the MGs powerset. therefor Gaia can't have manipulated this.
Gaia loves to rock the Gendo Pose even when she has no reason to rock the Gendo Pose.
But no, right now Past!Gaia is wondering what that weird buzzing sound is, but is currently more interested in the giant triangular structures her animate legos are building on her... Yeah.
She's mostly unaware that this is currently happening and has more interesting things to poke right now.
Edit: also if I remember Heidi's personal timeline correctly she's currently LARPing across North America right now and getting a little too in to things.
Part of me wonders about the title of the quest, Peril's Origin.
Could this actually be a Bootstrap Paradox, in which Defiance time traveling is an indirect cause of the UD invading Earth, while the UD invading Earth is also an indirect cause of Defiance time traveling?
That this is the origin of the dangers humanity currently faces?
Gaia loves to rock the Gendo Pose even when she has no reason to rock the Gendo Pose.
But no, right now Past!Gaia is wondering what that weird buzzing sound is, but is currently more interested in the giant triangular structures her animate legos are building on her... Yeah.
She's mostly unaware that this is currently happening and has more interesting things to poke right now.
Eh, kind of. Time travel plays havoc with Gaia's connection to humans if it involves boing far enough back that modern humans haven't evolved yet. So she tries not to poke her nose in too deep.
Interesting. Well, it seems likely that Defiance has the Time affinity given how she's time traveled. Anyone want to guess what her other Affinities are?
In the first place, please do remember, Journey is a Divine Only Ability - it is supposed to be strictly limited to Divine Entities, which Defiance is not.
I've already mentioned my guess that Defiance having a Divine Only Ability anywhere is the result of her having That Which is Forbidden ability. My specific guess is that ability allows Heidi to outright ignore any "needs to have a specific affinity to get a specific ability" limitations.
It's impossible to break the Fold if you don't even know you time traveled.
Our MC knows that the UD shouldn't yet know about Humans or Magical Girls, so she has reason to believe that simply saying where she's from is causing a paradox.
She might not be breaking the Fold, if a Bootstrap Paradox or something is involved, but there's little reason for her to suspect that.
At the very least, the Fold is under a lot more strain now.
What's truly mysterious though is the question of when we broke the Glass.
Especially considering it can't be broken accidentally, yes. Though, there might be a difference between "accidentally" and "unknowingly" - in which case making that runic circle would qualify.
Also, I think that guessing what UD should and shouldn't know isn't enough to trigger a paradox.
"...from the death zone. How can anything live there without magic?" Her question is not even directed at you; your words must have shaken the woman before you more than you thought. "No magic at all, nothing to live off of... first we join the war, now you... what is next?"
Gaia loves to rock the Gendo Pose even when she has no reason to rock the Gendo Pose.
But no, right now Past!Gaia is wondering what that weird buzzing sound is, but is currently more interested in the giant triangular structures her animate legos are building on her... Yeah.
She's mostly unaware that this is currently happening and has more interesting things to poke right now.
Edit: also if I remember Heidi's personal timeline correctly she's currently LARPing across North America right now and getting a little too in to things.
[X] EXP Plan Good Guess (60)
-[X] Upgrade The Handle to LVL 3 (30)
-[X] Upgrade Stardust Striker to LVL 2 (10)
-[X] Upgrade Stygian Tempest to LVL 2 (10)
-[X] Upgrade Reaper's Will to LVL 2 (10)
You do not really want to think at the moment. Doing stuff feels like a good idea.
Back in the hallway, you find a rune quite similar to the one within Elisabeth's office; it sits on the ground with a faint glimmer, mostly unassuming. Yet the Demon somehow used it to teleport away.
You crouch and slowly put a finger on the rune, trying to wipe it off. It stays in place like a Brand Craft array. Then you push your hand on it, and nothing happens. When you step on top of it, nothing happens either. It just sits there without doing anything.
You jump when it glows brighter before materialising a tiny form with long, droopy ears and wrinkly skin that looks more like leather; the creature appears right in front of you, looking at the empty corridor for a few moments. Its ear flicks when you take a step back, then it turns around and bows until its nose touches the floor. "Lady Adelheid, me was told to lead you," it says.
So that is an Imp. It does not look like much and you slowly relax; even you can tell this one is more or less harmless on the physical end.
"Okay." You are not sure what else to say, though the Imp keeps his body bowed. "You, uh, can stand normally." It rises back up and takes you in with sharp, beady eyes; when your gazes meet, the Imp immediately looks away.
Ignoring that, you think back to what Elisabeth told you. Between getting your Affinities checked and getting some clothes, you feel that only one of those things can wait a little longer. So you instruct your guide, voice more steady than you feel: "Lead me to Maya in logistics."
"Right so! This way!" The Imp immediately waddles off and you follow, not having to walk faster than a nice walking pace. Your legs are just that much longer.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE . . .
The walk through Charon's Keep is mostly just long. You see Demons and a few Dark Stars bustling around, but nobody pays much attention to you; all things considered, you are pretty happy about that.
Some time later, the Imp leads you right past another glimmering rune and through an open door into another office space. This one is much smaller than the one you were in before. It is about as cozy, though; the walls are held in warm reds and gold, another wooden desk... you almost miss the woman sitting behind it on your first once-over. When you do see her however, you pause only two steps into the room.
"I bring Lady Adelheid," your guide helpfully provides and the Demon nods at them. You wait quietly for now, sizing up your surroundings just in case.
Then she speaks and you forget about that. "Thank you very much, I was already informed. You can return to your duties, I will take care of her now." The Imp quickly bows and darts off, leaving you alone with her; she chuckles before offering you a warm smile. "I am Maya, head of the Keep's logistics department. Please take a seat and relax."
You do as told, at least on the first half. Relaxing is not that easy, considering that the woman in front of you has not only a pair of curved horns; a pair of batlike wings is folded behind her back and her crimson dress only emphasizes her traits and unmarred beauty.
You feel inadequate in your femininity just by looking at her.
Though for some reason, she seems to eye you quite closely as well. The silent exchange of glances holds for a while and you have no idea what to say, not to such a smile. It is her who breaks the silence with another warm chuckle. "Such a quiet girl. Are you feeling alright, dear?" Her question gives you pause. You know the answer, but do not want to admit to anything here. So you shrug instead of giving an actual answer.
"I'm fine. This is just... not what I expected is all." Which is a big understatement, but she takes it and does not ask any further.
"That's understandable. I did not expect this meeting when I woke up this morning, either." Instead of getting down to business however, she smiles at you again and rummages in her desk. Then she pushes what looks like a sandwhich your way. "Here, you look hungry." By the time you really understand what just happened, it is already in your hands.
You look down at the soft bread and realise your stomach is empty; still, a Demon just gave you this and acts nothing like Demons are supposed to act. Again.
With that in mind, you look back up at her. "Why are you giving me this?"
She gives you another warm smile in return. "Because I can. There is always time to get some lunch for myself, now eat up while I get some things ready." She rises to her feet with that and a small shower of sparks sprays from her shoulders; they remain in the air and take shape, forming a second pair of arms that quickly reachs through the whole room to grasp for something.
You can not help but watch as you begin to nibble on the food, noting the rather spicy meat amidst some crunchy salad. Maya's movements have a certain softness to them that puts you at ease. She gets some tapes and papers, brings out a stool, closes the door. The air flickers lightly under her ethereal arms' gentle heat and you barely realise you are done eating when she motions for you to stand.
She gives you a soft smile and vanishes through another door for a minute, soon returning with a glass of warm milk that tastes oddly sweet. You like the taste and drink it quickly after a small sip; Maya giggles for some reason, but you pay it no mind for the few moments that you are occupied with your drink. When you put down the glass however, you can not help but ask: "Okay, I... I don't get it. Why are you so nice? Demons aren't supposed to be nice, it's...."
You have no words to finish your explanation, but her expression tells you she understands anyway. However, Maya merely shrugs. "What can I say?" she tells you softly. "I was born this way."
"And Elisabeth?"
Your question earns you a confused look before Maya matches the name to her superior. "She lets you call her by name?" You nod and she frowns for some reason. "That is unusual. The Ashen Maiden usually keeps her distance to everyone." Her gaze falls on you again. "Then again, the situation is far from normal. We will see what happens."
She shrugs it off and leaves you confused; a feeling that only increases when the Demon claps her hands. "Now then, off with your clothes, dear." You can only stare at her until she clarifies with a wave toward the things she gathered together. "I need to take your measurements. One of my subordinates would do that normally, but you are smaller than most and I can use the practice."
Even now, her words only slowly process and you can feel your face burning at the mere idea.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE . . .
Twenty minutes later, you are wrapped in a warm blanket and Maya cheerfully copies her notes while you try not to die from embarassment. She somehow talked you into it and stayed professional throughout, though her attention was kept by your bra the moment she saw it. She is eyeing the piece even now, shaking her head.
"Just so you know," the she finally tells you, "not only does that look uncomfortable, we don't have anything like it, either. So you better get used to wearing an undershirt or bind your chest; both are possible at your size." That... makes sense, in a way. You nod slowly and receive another smile.
Maya finishes her notes soon after and nods at your pile of clothes. "You can get dressed now, I have everything. Give me a minute, I might even have a dress in about your size somewhere in the back." She gets up and pauses, then looks your way. "Humans menstruate, right? I should...."
She leaves the room with that, her mumbling quickly fading as you are left to your own devices. After putting your clothes back on as quickly as you can however, you really have nothing to do but sit there.
Maya is an odd one, her open kindness clashes quite viciously with everything you know Demons stand for. She is... like a mother.
You had tried not to think of home, but the thought of parents breaks your walls apart. Five thousand years separate you from your father, your friends, your world, everything you know and love. And all you have to get back is a spell you can not control.
Your eyes prickle as tears roll down your cheeks; no amount of wiping can dry them. You slowly curl up on your chair, trying to at least muffle your sobs as everything crashes down in your mind.
You want to go home.
"What..."
Something thuds on the floor, but you pay it no mind; moments later, four arms wrap around you. It feels much warmer, the sensation driving the cold away from your body but also reminding you of what you lost. A choked sob escapes your throat and one hand softly strokes your head, another on your back.
"Shh, it's fine. You're fine, sweetie." Maya's voice is soft and quiet. You want to push her away but can't, your own arms already wrapped around her as she keeps whispering reassurances to you. "It's okay, let it out. I'm here." She holds you tightly and lets you cry into her chest, not leaving or letting go.
Minutes pass and the warmth slowly calms you down. She keeps holding you tightly and strokes your back, only letting go when you do. Maya's magical hands wipe the tearstains from your eyes, warming your face as the Demon smiles at you. You shily smile back and utter a quiet "Thank you," but have no words otherwise. You do not understand how any of this could have happened.
You have not cried in years, at least not really. A few tears here and there, but nothing like this.
"It's okay, sweetie. We all need some comfort from time to time. You should rest up for now." Maya picks you up and puts you on your feet, a hand on your shoulder while her ethereal appendages gather some things into a bundle. It is only now that you realise she, too, stands a head taller than you. "I have some basic things for you; can you find the way back to your chambers on your own?"
You nod slowly, unsure but wanting to be alone for a while. The way back is a bit of a blur, but you do find the place.
. . .
IDENTIFIED BREAK LINE . . .
Two days passed by this point and you still do not feel like doing much. Food mysteriously appeared by your door and you did little aside from looking around and thinking but getting nowhere.
The room Elisabeth gave you is spacious. Sleeping in a queen-sized bed takes some getting used to, there is just so much space.
You sigh and quietly brush your hair one last time; it is vain, but also a good way to pass time. You feel like going out now, but have no place to start; visiting Maya would be an idea, but you are still unsure if she really is as kind as she gives herself. Then you also have places to go and an entire fortress to explore.
Before you can come to a decision however, someone knocks at the door and sends you out of your stupor. You hastily drop behind the bed and stay quiet, hoping that whoever it is leaves.
No such luck, though; the door opens slowly... and much to your relief, it is nothing dangerous. A tiny head pokes in, crowned by two small horns and sporting pointed ears. You rise up from your hiding place and your visitor smiles brightly. "Ah, this is your place!" She happily walks in, then jumps back and grips the door sheepishly. "C-Can I come in?"
You blink at the little girl and nod. "Sure, come in." And your permission brings out the smile again; she darts inside and closes the door, then runs up to you, red hair illuminated by the afternoon sun.
She reaches barely higher than your belly button, wide blue eyes curiously examining your features as you look her over in turn. A more rustic-looking outfit that leaves her belly completely bare, with shorts and a top that only covers her modest chest. She has gloves, though; all about her looks sturdy.
You shake everything off and focus on your tiny visitor; despite your best attempts, you can not help but smile at her. "What's your name?"
"I'm Paoras," she happily volunteers. "What's yours?"
"I'm Heidi," you introduce yourself and give her a little handshake; her hands are small and warm, making you squeal in the safety of your own head. "What are you doing here, Paoras?"
For some reason, your question brings a toothy grin out of her and she pulls you along to the door with surprising strength. "Mama says you have to go out, and she said you're nice. So I'll help you." Now you stare at her, unable to really resist. Neither do you want to, nor are you strong enough while untransformed.
"You mean Maya?"
"Yup!"
She reaches the door and grins up at you innocently, which makes what little resistance you had melt. "Alright, let's go do some stuff."
"Yay!"
-------------
Pick Three:
[] Visit R&D to get your Affinities checked
[] Take a walk around the base; this place is massive and there is much to see
[] The Spires are interesting, perhaps you can see what is up top?
[] Actually, you feel like taking a bath
[]EXP-Plan
-[] Write-in what to buy
-[] Save it
=====
+5xp Met Maya
+5xp Met Paoras
EXP gained: 10 Total EXP: 155
=====
(Unlocked Level 1 Character Sheet: Maya)
(Unlocked Level 3 Character Sheet: Paoras)
[x] Visit R&D to get your Affinities checked
[x] Take a walk around the base; this place is massive and there is much to see
[x] The Spires are interesting, perhaps you can see what is up top?
[X] Visit R&D to get your Affinities checked
[X] The Spires are interesting, perhaps you can see what is up top?
[X] Actually, you feel like taking a bath
