Our story begins with fire and death.


    It begins with tragedy. The sun is setting a fire roars, and the wood of a once impressive mansion cracks and snaps. Two bodies are outside, one of a grown man with a hole pierced through his body, and blood-soaked his clothes. The dark red ichor was pooled on the ground wetting the grass around him. The other body was that of a child, a young boy with dirty blonde hair, some blood was dried on his face, and the child looked on helplessly as what was their home burned to the ground. The engine of a motorcycle roars and a man looks around and sees the boy, “Arthur!” he exclaims and runs up to him. Arthur doesn''t respond, the man checks him, breathing a sigh of relief that he seems to be ok.


    Arthur barely speaks but the man hears him clear enough, “Why did this happen.”


    The man hugs Arthur, “I wish I knew.”


    A lone figure stands on a skyscraper overlooking a city. They wear an interesting garb. A red hat comes up to a point and bends down. A yellow ring going through the tip. A black band at the base of the hat with a white crescent moon emblem on the front.


    The hat rests upon a helmet the back and sides of which are gray, the front is purple crystal with a bronze trim, with a Bronze band running down the center near the bottom it splits in two going at angles. At the sides of the band on each side are two more bands of bronze. The visor looks like it has a crude outline of a face. A space for the mouth and eyes.


    Some sort of gray cloth seems to run down from the base of the helmet down the neck.


    A dark moderate blue coat is wrapped around their body, it sports no hood, and the top wraps around the wearer''s hands.


    The coat splits at the front revealing that underneath might be some kind of red tunic. The coat goes down to their knees, a face-like pattern is present on both thighs which are covered in a gray cloth. The tunic and coat have a bronze trim at the bottoms. Brown boots with two black belts on each that sport bronze buckles that stop below the knees and meet the gray pants.


    Their outfit also has iron pauldrons on the shoulders, iron knee pads, and iron plates on the back of the hands that have two studs on each. An iron chest plate with brown leather straps holding it in place on the top on the left and right are symbols; a similar symbol is at the bottom of it. A bronze heart shape is at the center creating a trim around a purple crystal heart with a star emblem.


    An orange belt is around their waist with an odd gray buckle which is box-like, on the left side are two bolts on the right is a purple crystal plate with a matching star emblem. Finally on the forearms is purple crystal armor that is held in place by leather straps.


    While looking like what someone would expect a Witch to look like but also has a mild resemblance to a knight.


    A gust of wind blows by them, and they grab their hat so it doesn''t blow away as their coat billows in the wind.


    After the burst of wind died down, the person looks at their hands and speaks, their voice comes out distorted as if it was going through a filter, “Four cycles and Eight turns… When will it be enough, I want this to be over, I want to live my life without worrying about-” then they find themselves interrupted. Emerging from their shadow is a black cat that looks like it''s made of shadows and smoke light can be seen through it, maybe even both. Despite its appearance, it lets out a soft meow and rubs its head against the person''s leg.


    They look down and pick up the cat which lets out a meow in protest. “Hello Cathrine, I guess you found something?” their voice comes out sounding distorted but still understandable. The phantasmal cat lets out a chirp in response. “A Demon?” they ask to make sure the cat runs their head against the Witch, “Well, guess it''s time.” They let go of the cat which disappears into their shadow.


    The Witch thrusts their palms forward and bends their fingers as a purple magic circle manifests in front of their hand. The Witch begins to chant, “Radian, Artisa, Lunell,” as they chant they turn their hand to the side and bring their wrists together as a purple magic circle forms in front of them. “Ledean roan Io,” They move their hands into a vertical position, “Revul ta way.” They then split their hands apart and the spell circle hanging in the hand swings open like doors being thrown open, and they call out, “Traverse!”


    After they finished weaving together their spell they ran through their portal.


    Now what had happened in a different part of the city, a young woman with red hair and green eyes was at a table in front of what looked like a cafe sitting by herself. She was rubbing tears from her eyes. The woman thinks back, she was supposed to meet her fiance here, and she wanted to tell her something. Only to hear, “Laura, I think we should call this off.” she felt her heart breaking.


    “Tori, why was it something I did? If it was please I can make up for it.” she wanted to know why, all of a sudden this happened Laura thought everything was going well.


    Tori shakes her head, “It’s nothing you did, I was just thinking, we rushed into a lot of things, Laura. Honestly, I don’t think I''m ready to get married, I know I want to but.”


    Laura then cuts her off, “Ok I get it, you go, and have your stupid ring back.” she pulls the rose gold ring off her finger and hands it to Tori, she doesn''t know how to feel. It was too much right now.


    “I’m sorry by the way, can we?”


    Tori was talking but Laura cut her off again. “I don’t want to hear it right now Victoria, just go, I want to be alone.”


    Laura sniffles remembering what happened only moments ago. She takes a sip from her drink.


    A trio of people had gathered together. Each member wore a white cloak, one had a magenta trim, another had a cyan trim, and the last had a yellow trim. One of them chuckles, “Do you sense that my fellow Wisemen?” The one that spoke had a hoarse voice, and the other two looked at him.


    “I did as well, it feels like, fresh heartbreak.” The second one has a guttural sense to their voice.


    “Perfect, fresh heartbreak is powerful, I''m sure the pathetic plainsman who is experiencing it will make a fine vessel.” the third one says with a dead tone to their voice, “but which one of us should give them the Demon?”


    The one with a yellow trim speaks up with a hoarse voice, “It is my turn to try and make The Plainsmen suffer.”


    Back to the present, the Armored Witch runs through their portal which closes behind them. They see people angry and sad, arguing, a woman with hair that looks like the color of dried dead rose petals. In one hand is a bow, cloth wrapped around their body like a toga, sandals on the feet, and a pair of wings. The feathers are jet black. A dull gold halo floats above her head; it looks like it''s been snapped in half. The woman looks like Cupid but also a fallen angel. The woman with her skin so pale it looks like she’s dead laughs as the people who were couples are now bickering and fighting with one another.


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    Black eyes look at the Witch, “My, my, my right on cue, those three were right, the brave foolish hero who runs in to save these people.” She says taunting the Witch.


    “Oh, The Wisemen know me so well,” The Witch says sarcastically, “so what are you, done sort of heartbreak demon?” The Witch asks prodding the Demon.


    “Smart thinking.” The Demon aims her bow and a string of energy forms, she pulls it back and releases the energy string which shoots out as an arrow of dark pinkish light.


    “your appearance gave it away.” the Witch raises their hand and a magic circle appears in front of their hand a yellow aura forms around them and a wall of earth and concrete shoots up to block the arrow but it breaks apart as the arrow vanishes.


    The Demon smirks, “Pure Visualization? How long can you keep that trick up, I mean there is a reason why you humans use your silly chants.” She winces in pain as a shard of ice shoots through her wing, a blue aura coats the damaged appendage, the black blood stops flowing and the wing stitches itself back together. The Demon looks behind herself, sees a fading purple magic circle, and looks back at the Witch.


    She watches as The Witch punches into a blue rectangular shape, it shines brightly and wraps around them.


    Their hat vanishes and their cloak changes into a cross between a robe and a raincoat that stops at the top of the shins, it has a navy color with a bronze trim, and a bronze cup pattern at the base, running on the outside a strange array of symbols. The robe sported a gray zipper track running down the front with a bronze zipper at the bottom. The chest plate, pauldrons, and visor remained visible; the purple crystals had changed to blue. The chest and belt crystals sport an inverted triangle. The pauldrons each sport a blue water droplet emblem. On the back of the hands is a navy like their coat, and the palm is gray. Finally, some kind of gray crossbow manifested in their hands.


    They aim their weapon towards the Demon. The two of them take their shots; the arrow of dark pink energy collides with a bolt of water; and the two attacks disperse against each other. “Aw, I thought that was going through your heart.” The Witch says and they dodge a third arrow, “You could have said no!” they protest before shooting back which the Demon moves out of the way.


    “I will not flirt with the likes of you Witch.” They continue shooting at each other.


    “Flirt?” they laugh, “Please you''re not my type!” the Demon growls and starts upping her volley of arrows, “crap baskets.” They thrust their hand up and a blue magic circle forms above them and twists her hand and calls out “Fros Domrai!” a dome of ice forms around them the energy arrows smack against it making it crack.


    “Hiding now? How pathetic!” the Heartbreak Demon taunts.


    The Witch looks at their robed state and sees their form flashing back and forth between its current state and its previous one. “A minute already? Crap I have to counter-spell its curse before I time out.” they take a deep breath as various blue Magic circles appear around the dome, “what are they doing?” The Demon tilts their head, then realizes something as the cool blue changes to Cyan, “Wait they’re trying to!” She starts shooting arrow after arrow into the dome trying to break it before a bright flash of light is heard and the commotion of sorrow and hate is no longer heard. “She counter-cursed the entire block.” She grabs her hair, “Oh now I have to do all that work all over again!”


    The ice turns to steam as a dual blast of fire shoots out and strikes into the Demon. She screeched out and fell to the ground. Walking to them out of the steam they look like their original form, their hat looks like it''s designed to emulate fire. Their coat is red, with dark blue badges running up from the base and stopping at the belt. The two face emblems are a matching blue. The possible tunic is a fiery yellow. The crystals changed to a dark red. The pauldrons have a light blue fire emblem on each one. And in each hand is a match stick-styled weapon. On the chest and belt is an upright triangle


    “Smells like fried chicken.” the Witch Taunts.


    “First water, now fire? So you can use contrasting elements.” The Demon comments her voice comes out strained as she stands up, she’s sweating, and panting. She looks tired. “Did you curse me with that fire?”


    “Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner, now then, that curse is eating away at your mana.”


    “My Mana, heh so what, I have a vessel, so I can eat away at her life force, it should keep me going long enough to kill you.” The Demon proclaims confidently.


    “Wait you''re.” The Witch stops themself as they see part of the demon’s form looking like it is burned away to reveal Laura underneath.


    The redhead barely speaks, “Help, it hurts so much.” She begs.


    The Demon’s form regenerates as Laura screams in pain, The Witch grips their weapons tighter their tenses and the Demon laughs, “Now you get it! As long as I’m possessing her I have leverage, so you''re going to counter your curse and let me beat you to death!” Their form starts flickering again. “Oh even better, a time limit!”


    The Demon walked forward but as they were a foot or so away a green slate of light manifested in front of the Witch. It seems to depict a knight on horseback holding a sword.


    They strike through it in a diagonal motion, the green light wraps around them and their outfit changes once more.


    Their weapons transform into swords, the dark red crystals change to bright green, and on the chest and belt is an upright triangle with a line going through it. Their cost is a light and bright green with a white pattern on the base that looks like it''s supposed to be wind. The palms remain that blue on the base form. The tunic and hate have changed to white.


    The Demon stumbles back a huge gash over their body revealing Laura underneath, “So you don’t care, if you keep fighting I will kill her!”


    The Witch points their blade at the Demon, and the weapon shines a bright pearlescent white, “This last attack should finish you.”


    “You willing to bet my hostage life, then bring it on, it will be great to see you fall to dis-”


    The Demon is cut off by a single word, “Bless.” with a single slash the light coats the demon, and her form crumbles away.


    Laura starts falling to the ground, the Witch catches her as her green form vanishes, turning back to its original colors.


    She sets the woman down, “I don’t know why this happened to you, but you''re safe now Laura.”


    A few days later.


    That young woman is out shopping and someone calls out to her, “Laura, it''s been forever!” Laura looks and sees a friend from high school, a young woman with golden blonde hair that is braided into a bun. Beatrice Veran, though everyone ended up calling her Betty.  She noticed the unfamiliar prosthetic on her right arm.


    “We hung out last month, wait, you got yourself a new arm!” she says excitedly


    Betty smiles, “Yep,” She looks at her arm and her face looks a bit sad, “Yeah it took a lot to get this, but it''s worth it.” Laura saw the fingers and wrist move so fluidly it was like it wasn’t gears and wires held together by a metal casing.


    “What''s it like getting used to the new arm?”


    Betty rubs her arm, “It’s been going fine, my body isn’t rejecting the prosthetic… it''s just odd having a second-hand again.”


    Laura notices a note of apprehension in her friend''s emerald eyes, “What’s the matter, Betty.”


    “Well I heard you got possessed by the other Radia, how are you feeling?”


    Right, she was turned into a demon, while she didn’t remember causing the havoc the Demon did on Siprrad, she remembered how her now ex-fiance broke off their engagement out of the blue and then just disappeared. Laura remembered how hurt and sad she was and then there was darkness. “I think I’m doing fine, I just guess there’s a disconnect because I don’t remember what happened.”


    “Kinda expected,” Betty gasps like she just remembered something, “you free tomorrow?”


    “Yes.” Laura is unsure of what is happening.


    “Good! Cause I’m having a get-together at my apartment, I thought it would be nice to have the old group back together. You, Lance, Perry, Me, while you never met her, I’m inviting Aria. The two of us shared a lot of classes.”


    “Sounds fun I guess.”


    “Great, show up around 1:30. That''s when everyone else will be getting there, have fun shopping.”


    As the two go their separate ways, Laura thinks back to when that Witch saved her with their sword form. Then she clutched her head a bit, she remembers seeing a woman with a similar sword. She was wearing black cropped jacket with a white fur collar, green pants, and red hiking shoes. Her hair was black, and stopped at the base of her head. The woman had a silver eye, a scar running over the other few other scars on the face. She remembered this woman slaying some sort of mystic beast, a smirk on her face as she turned to her with a thumbs up.


    Laura doesn''t know why but she feels like she might be the Witch, but also not, like something happened. Whatever it was her gut told her she could trust them.


    Elsewhere a woman with dirty blonde hair that is kept short, knocks on a door. She waits for a moment before the door is opened by a woman with black hair that transitions into a Ruby red. “You need to redo your hair Rouge.”


    The black-haired woman groaned, “I would but I''ve been strapped for cash, I''m just happy you could come to Aria.”


    “Anything for a friend, so is Nachtia ready for her lesson?”


    “Should be, oh you can take out your contacts if you want to,” Rouge suggests.


    “Thank you, I''m not sure how you stand them because they are so itchy.” Aria pulls out a contact case and takes out her contact lenses and puts them into the case. Her eyes which looked blue at first now look silver.


    “Well, why don’t you get your glasses fixed?”


    “I have a new pair coming in.”


    A girl''s voice could be heard, “Rouge is that Ari?”


    Rouge chuckles, “She''s been waiting all excitedly for you to come back.” she tells Aria before calling back to her sister, “Yeah she just got here.”