《Reaper Ex Magus: Messenger Rising》


 Prologue. School of Bones

    ¡°So. Pascal, what can you tell me about this place?¡± Nikita Takahashi asked the captain of her guard.


    They were at the heart of the city, standing before the main building of one of the most prestigious schools in the kingdom. Students and staff alike were gathered at the school grounds, surrounded by police and other emergency personnel. News crews and aspects of the City Guard have already gotten wind of the situation.


    ¡°The castle belongs to House Nakashima,¡± her captain said. ¡°Thirteen years ago, it was repurposed into a school for noble children, but has since started accepting lowborn magi as well. We¡¯ve tried contacting Nakashima representatives, but we have little luck.¡± he flipped through the data pad with a dull expression. ¡°The headmaster confirmed that most of the students and staff made it out alive, save for a handful of students.¡±


    Crossing her arms over her chest, Nikita Takahashi let out a huff of hot air.


    ¡°Students that were too hung over or too busy partying?¡± she mused. ¡°Either way, that just means that we have people to rescue.¡± she drooped her shoulders. ¡°Unbelievable. And here I was expecting a quiet night.¡±


    Pascal¡¯s old eyes looked toward the ominous castle.


    ¡°Quiet nights come rare in this kingdom, Your Grace.¡±


    ¡°Sure enough.¡± she replied, her eyes drifting toward a distant object in the sky.


    It was called a Rift. It hung in the sky as a flat disc, a miniature black hole, a gateway to another world. Rifts came in all shapes and sizes, but all served the same purpose. They heralded the coming of an Old God. The Rift floated high in the night sky, pouring out white light amidst the darkness. It was as large as a stadium and brighter than the moon.


    The Rifts started appearing two years ago, in all their magnificence. They appeared everywhere, above kingdoms, small settlements, and in the middles of nowhere alike.


    It was never a good sign when a Rift emerged.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start moving in a sec.¡± Nikita said, a gust of wind causing her auburn hair to dance.


    Born into one of the Great Noble Houses, Nikita was an example of noble, ladylike grace. Yet for all her beauty and kindness, few people knew her personally. She was more of an icon, a status symbol if anything. Even now people gathered behind her, their phones raised in a struggle to take snapshots of her.


    It was hard being famous, she thought with a sly grin.


    ¡°Are there any VIPs or psychopaths inside that I should look out for?¡± she asked. ¡°Or should I expect the usual?¡±


    ¡°There have been no reports of Saori Nakashima being found.¡± Pascal said as a matter-of-factly. ¡°Perhaps you should look out for her?¡±


    Saori Nakashima.


    If memory serves her right, the girl was the only daughter of Lady Izabel. Being a noble herself, Nikita was familiar with most of the highborn houses of Kria. Saori Nakashima was a small, shy girl who always looked like she¡¯d rather be somewhere else. Finding her was an utmost priority.


    The castle-school before Nikita was hauntingly quiet. The exterior walls were cracked and small bits of smoke rose from the high chambers. She could feel the presence of the Guardian inside. She felt like something was reaching out to her, deep within the castle walls.


    Only she could feel the presence¡ª she as The Messenger.


    Only she and one other.


    ¡°Two minutes and we¡¯re moving in.¡± she announced loud enough for everyone to hear. Instantly, everyone¡¯s attention moved to her.


    Pascal nodded in compliance, his grey eyes moving toward the rest of her guards. Ten soldiers stood behind Nikita, their armored forms bearing the scale-and-scholar insignia of her house. They instantly stood at attention, their rifles to their chests.


    Unlike them, Nikita herself was dressed in a casual red cardigan and a skirt.


    An attire very much unfitting for battle.


    Still, that concerned her little. Everyone present was aware of the power she had.


    A terrible roar echoed from the castle-school and the air grew still. Straight ahead, upon the half-open doors of the inner keep, a pair of steel hands emerged the darkness. The doors slowly opened, the wood splintering and the metal giving way. The City Guard present shouted at the crowd to stay back as they prepared their weapons. Nikita¡¯s own guardsmen rushed to her side, falling to a knee and shouldering their rifles.


    What emerged from the castle was a Guardian, a living creature of steel, fire, and ancient magic. As the keep¡¯s doors fell before it, crushed from its immense strength, it began to stride forward. It towered at ten feet tall. Its shoulders were broad and its head was sharp steel. The creature¡¯s long metal arms were unattached from its body, almost reaching the ground. Runes of an ancient language ran across its entire body, glowing in angry gold.


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    The creature locked eyes with Nikita almost instantly.


    There was a connection there, a primal link that existed between predator and prey.


    With a roar that sounded like grinding steel, it rushed straight forward. The ground broke beneath its stride as it tore through the castle grounds, a giant of steel. Dozens of rifles came to life, peppering the air with bullets that travelled at a percentage of the speed of light.


    The bullets bounced off creature¡¯s armor like nothing.


    Its charge continued, moving forward like a racing car. The crowd of onlookers began to step back, others already running at the sight. At thirty meters away obvious signs of panic began appearing on the faces of the City Guard. Twenty-five meters and some have already broken rank. Nikita¡¯s own guards began to hesitate as it approached at twenty.


    Nikita stood her ground with the most unimpressed look in the world.


    With nary a gesture, she drew within herself the power of the Messenger. Magical energy burned to life around her. Outlines of swords and spears floated to her left and right, glowing an iridescent red. Eight weapons appeared in total, five swords and three spears. The crowd stood in awe at the display, before the weapons began to vibrate from the outpour of magical energy.


    She narrowed her eyes, watching as the steel Guardian continued to barrel toward her.


    The first blade sped forward with all the force of a modern rocket. Its launch shattered the sound barrier, sending a deafening boom blooming outward. The shockwave almost flattens bystanders, sending civilians and guards alike falling to their knees.


    The first sword crashed into the Guardian, embedding itself into its armor and throwing the beast back. The monster roared defiantly, but the second and third blades were already on their way. The claymore and the long sword caught the beast by its knees, causing it to fall hard into the ground. The rest of the weapons followed soon after, launched just microseconds apart.


    The final blade, a spear, hung beside Nikita as a cloud of dust floated around the Guardian. She reached and touched the blade with her finger, sending a red spark running across its length.


    The spear flew forward with more force than the other blades; the cemented ground breaking apart from the sheer force of its trajectory. It crashed into the cloud of dust and hit the Guardian square in the forehead. The ensuing explosion was bright enough to be seen from across the city. Dust, debris, and fragments of steel bloomed into the air as the windows of nearby cars broke apart.


    Silence hung in the air when it was over.


    Nikita crossed her arms, satisfied that she no longer felt the Guardian¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Pascal.¡± she called out to her captain. ¡°Please inform Secretary Sonis of what happened here, specifically about my heroic deeds accidentally blowing up everyone¡¯s windows.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone here has insurance, Your Grace.¡± the captain said plainly, his eyes focused on a holographic display on his forearm.


    ¡°Wait, getting caught in the Messenger¡¯s powers is insurable now?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The Empire has decided to pay for any damages that may result in your actions.¡±


    Nikita placed a hand to her chin. ¡°I am not surprised. It was about time they implemented that.¡± she shrugged and began to walk toward the castle, ¡°Is everyone alright? Cool? No broken bones or popped eardrums?¡±


    The crowd replied with pained groans and stares of confusion.


    ¡°Alright.¡± she nodded and began increasing her pace. ¡°Pascal, maintain the perimeter with the captain of the City Guard. I¡¯m moving in to sort this out¡ª¡±


    ¡°Your Grace!¡± there was urgency to Pascal¡¯s voice. ¡°Please wait. I¡¯ve received a message from House Maxwell, informing us that His Grace is on the way to assist you¡ª¡±


    Nikita looked about as amused as a pile of rocks.


    ¡°Tell His Grace that I have no wish to see him.¡± she scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m still angry at him and I¡¯d rather just do this alone. Plus, I don¡¯t need him. This is all just a silly infestation, I¡¯ll get this sorted out in no time.¡±


    ¡°Your Grace,¡± Pascal said respectfully. ¡°He is the Messenger as well; confronting the Guardians is his responsibility as much as yours.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± she considered. ¡°I¡¯m still going ahead though. When Chaos arrives, please tell him not to interfere.¡±


    She scoffed as she walked. ¡°I just might mistake him for the enemy.¡±

 Chapter One

    Chapter One


    Typical Krian Morning


    Her morning alarm went off, filling the bedroom with the sound of music. Nikita rolled around in her bed, wrapped tightly in her comforter. It was way too cold to get up. Maybe in a few minutes.


    An hour passes and she¡¯s still in bed.


    After a few more minutes of grumbling and complaining, she eventually gets off of bed and gets about her morning routine. The penthouse came to life around Nikita as she stepped out of the bedroom. Ambient lights bathed the kitchen and living room in a nice shade of blue. The sound of the air conditioning hummed around her, as she stepped barefoot into the soft imported carpets.


    She gazed out into the city, still groggy and tired, through the large, glass walls of the house. The sun was peeking over the horizon, bathing the sky in orange and amber shades. The apartment was as clean as it always was. Classic and modern art shared the inner walls of the house. In a way, they made the place look like something of a museum.


    Nikita liked it that way.


    A large, flat-screen television turned on across the room. The kingdom¡¯s biggest morning show was on.


    ¡°Wintersong College was attacked last night by Guardian entities, throwing a good chunk of the school in ruins. Twelve personnel and fourteen students were reportedly injured, but luckily no casualties have been found.¡± the news anchor announced. ¡°Investigation of the event is still underway, with the City Guard refusing to release information on any suspects¡ª¡±


    Nikita sat down on the couch with a cup of steaming coffee, half listening and half thinking about the news.


    ¡°¡ªDisaster was mainly averted thanks to the appearance of one of the Messengers. Her Worship appeared swiftly to singlehandedly to take control of the situation.¡±


    Nikita appeared on the screen, standing triumphantly over the body of a large Guardian. It was a beautiful shot, capturing perfectly what a hero was supposed to look like. Her cardigan flapped in the wind, almost like a cape, making her look larger than life. But a second later the image was replaced with footage of Nikita standing and posing with a few bystanders. She looked more approachable then, more down to earth.


    ¡°-¡ªas affable as ever, Her Grace spent the rest of the evening mingling with her fans. While people appreciated her presence, some still wondered why the other Messenger had not accompanied her¡ª¡±


    Nikita turned off the TV with a flick of her wrist, standing up. The music continued to play as she went around the penthouse, preparing for her morning. She cooked herself a simple breakfast of meat and eggs, before walking into a warm shower.


    She closed her eyes as the water ran across her body, washing away the dust and memories of yesterday¡¯s battle. Nikita finished her bath in ten minutes, a surprisingly short time for someone of her standing. Most noble girls took their time in the shower. For a noble, urgency was a completely unfamiliar concept.


    Not for her, though.


    Not for the Messenger.


    Her phone rang just as she was changing. She already knew who it was. She tapped a button and let the call go to loudspeaker.


    ¡°Heeey, Takahashi~ are you there~? Oh who am I kidding, of course you are. You wouldn¡¯t be answering this phone otherwise. Unless it¡¯s Maxwell who¡¯s answering this¡­ and if so, it doesn¡¯t really matter.¡±


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    Nikita had to remind herself that the girl on the other end was a noble herself.


    ¡°I just wanted to let you guys know that the Rift is nearing completion, and should be popping within the weak. Hah. Popping. What a terrible phrase. So uh, yeah, get ready!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Risa. Has the king been informed?¡±


    ¡°Which king, yours or ours? Ardrian already knows, but your king and queen seem to be busy with things, so I¡¯ll probably inform them tomorrow.¡± the sound of paper being shuffled went through. ¡°Been taking to your Admiral of Shields, though. He promised that a couple of frigates should at least show up to help. Doubt that they¡¯d do much, but their presence should be enough to calm people¡¯s nerves.¡±


    Nikita opened her cabinet and fingered through her wardrobe.


    ¡°I¡¯m just glad that the Rift is finally materializing.¡± Nikita said. ¡°That thing is like a bomb hanging over everyone¡¯s head.¡±


    ¡°I hear you. Must be hard, worrying about your kingdom every day.¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡ªhmm. It¡¯s not like the other times. Kria is my home, you know? It¡¯ll be a relief when we finally get rid of that thing.¡±


    ¡°Mmm-hmm. Anyway, I gotta go.¡± did she even listen? ¡°Have some scientist duties to attend to. Bye~¡±


    The phone beeped off and Nikita finished getting dressed. Today she decided on wearing an oversized off the shoulder sweater and leggings. On her way out, she picked up an extra loaf of bread, before double-checking for her phone and tablet. She passed by the penthouse¡¯s open-air pool on her way to the elevator, but a few feet from the doors she found herself stopping.


    There, lying on the glass bench overlooking the pool, was the sleeping figure of the Messenger.


    Well, the other Messenger.


    Frowning, she approached him cautiously. He looked so peaceful when he slept. Even now, in the cold morning air, he looked about as comfortable as a sleeping baby.


    No wonder she didn¡¯t feel him roll into bed last night. Nikita frowned deeper. He could have slept inside. There were plenty of couches inside the house that he could have used. Was this his attempt of making her feel bad for him?


    She huffed and crossed her arms.


    Well, it was working.


    Still.


    He shouldn¡¯t have slept out here.


    With a roll of her eyes, she paced back inside and prepared him breakfast.

 Chapter Two

    Chapter Two


    Nakashima


    The valet looked nervous as Nikita handed the keys to her 1015 Azda. She smiled at the lanky boy. He looked sixteen years old, maybe even younger. He was only three years younger than her but he looked so nervous.


    ¡°Are you new?¡± she asked, smiling.


    ¡°Ye¡ªYes, Your Grace.¡± the boy looked like he was really struggling to look away. ¡°A¡ªAnyway, I¡¯ll be taking your car now. I¡ªI uh I mean, parking it, Your Grace¡ª Your Worship.¡±


    Nikita instantly flinched.


    ¡°There is no need to call me that.¡± she said. ¡°Your Grace is fine, please.¡±


    The boy bowed slowly, still trying to avoid her gaze. Without saying another word, he quietly circled around Nikita and got into her car, all while trying to look as small as possible. Nikita watched him drive off very, very slowly. She smiled to herself at the sight of the sleek sports car limping away.


    The Citadel was one of the most prominent magical institutions in the continent. Though the Kingdom of Kria itself was recognized for its colorful culture, and tall, modern architecture, before all that, it was also recognized as a nexus of modern magical education. The Citadel is the icon of that fact.


    At two-and-a-half kilometers tall, the Citadel houses a variety of schools and universities, is attended by thousands of students from all three disciplines and is a meeting ground of geniuses and curious new minds alike. Though Kria is ruled by Houses of Sorcery, the Citadel welcomes witches, warlocks, and alchemists as well. And unlike in other schools, elven professors teaching in the massive lecture halls were not a rare sight.


    In the Citadel, it didn¡¯t matter who you were. All that mattered was that you wanted to learn. Even deva, a race completely incapable of magic, were often seen everywhere, all because they wanted to better themselves.


    On the one-hundred-and-thirty-fifth floor, Nikita met with a representative from House Nakashima.


    ¡°We are honored to have you, Your Worship.¡± the representative, a tall woman in her mid-twenties said.


    Nikita smiled courteously.


    ¡°The pleasure¡¯s all mine. How is Saori doing?¡±


    The woman turned around and led her through a narrow empty hallway.


    ¡°She was sleeping, the last time we checked on her. After the trauma she endured, we can only imagine how much she craves for a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± they passed by two armored guards, who nodded respectfully toward Nikita. ¡°On behalf of House Nakashima, I would like to once again extend our appreciation for rescuing Her Grace.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It was all in a day¡¯s work.¡± Nikita dismissed.


    She was introduced into a waiting room with a view that perfectly overlooked the city. A couple of servants left her with wine and some snacks as she waited. The room was clean but fairly simple. It lacked the lavish one would expect from a noble house, but then again, they were on the Citadel, not in someone¡¯s castle.


    The representative bowed before leaving to fetch Nakashima.


    Nikita wanted to meet the girl, to check up on her after last night¡¯s theatrics. Seeing a Guardian up close for the first time was sure to be a traumatic experience. Few people could withstand the sheer weirdness of a Guardian. They weren¡¯t like the gentle Animus that sorcerers like herself summoned, nor were they like the monstrous Evertos that witches and warlocks call forth. They were entities that were ancient instead of evil, abstract instead of grand.


    The door opened with a hiss and Nikita glanced to watch the representative return, this time walking behind the small figure of Saori Nakashima.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Nikita gave the younger girl her best smile, but all she got in return was a meek nod.


    Saori Nakashima was small for her age. The valet at the gates reminded Nikita of her, except she was much smaller. She shrunk in her seat before Nikita¡¯s taller frame, like a mouse hiding from a predator. The frilly dress she wore made her look like a kid instead of a lady.


    ¡°How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?¡± Nikita asked.


    ¡°Yes, Your Worship.¡± her head barely moved when she nodded.


    ¡°Are you hurt anywhere? Have your servants been attending to you? I bet you had your lady mother so worried.¡±


    At the mention of her mother, the girl seemed to shrink even more.


    ¡°Saori?¡± Nikita said gently.


    When no reply came, the representative spoke up. ¡°Lady Nakashima is on a good will mission in the Anders. She will be returning in the next month¡ª¡±


    ¡°Has she been informed of what happened?¡± Nikita¡¯s change of tone caught the representative by surprise. She suddenly spoke in a commander¡¯s voice, in a hero¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Ye¡ªYes, Your Worship.¡±


    ¡°And what did My Lady have to say, if I may ask?¡±


    It was now the representative¡¯s turn to try and look small.


    ¡°She has yet to contact us, Your Worship.¡±


    Nikita frowned. She was obviously now scaring the poor representative.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t care.¡± Saori spoke under her breath.


    Nikita glanced at the girl. ¡°Saori?¡±


    The girl sighed and motioned to stand up.


    ¡°Th¡ªThank you for visiting me, Your Worship.  I appreciate House Ta¡ªTakahashi¡¯s continuous concern for my wellbeing.¡±


    Nikita frowned. Her words sounded so rehearsed.


    ¡°Do you have to be somewhere? It¡¯d be a shame if we cut this meeting so short.¡± Nikita said, trying to convince the girl.


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    Saori Nakashima kept looking away as she stood up. She was shy beyond words, almost as if she didn¡¯t deserve to be in Nikita¡¯s presence.


    ¡°I still have some things to ask you, though. Would you please stay? I¡¯m sure that whatever it is that you have to attend to can wait.¡± Nikita requested. ¡°You could just tell people that you were busy meeting with the Messenger herself. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll understand.¡±


    The girl seemed to hesitate for a moment. The truth is, she could probably leave anytime she wanted. Nikita was just a guest, after all. But Saori knew that she owed her life to Nikita.


    With a defeated sigh, the girl sank back into her seat, though she still found the table much more interesting than the person sitting opposite of her.


    ¡°Could you tell me what happened?¡± Nikita gave the girl a warm smile. ¡°It¡¯ll take some time before my people and the City Guard can come up with an explanation, but I know for a fact that someone summoned those Guardians there.¡±


    Nikita paid close attention to the girl¡¯s mannerisms. When a flash of hesitation crossed the girl¡¯s eyes, Nikita knew that she was close.


    ¡°Guardians don¡¯t just appear willy-nilly, Your Grace.¡± Nikita said. ¡°They can only be summoned in places where a Rift is nearby.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t know that.¡±


    Nikita smiled; glad the girl was talking to her.


    ¡°They¡¯re a lot like Animus or Evertos, except anyone can summon them, even Alchemists or elves. However, they can only be summoned if a person actively draws power from a nearby Rift. And as we both know, that¡¯s never a good thing.¡± she took an elegant sip from her wine before continuing, ¡°Rifts are practically limitless sources of magical energy, but the energy they release corrupts the body. Witchcraft practitioners are a bit more resistant to their effects, but even they can grow attached to the powers of a Rift.¡±


    ¡°Savant.¡± Saori whispered.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what people call them. Though I personally would have named them something else¡ª something cooler!¡± Nikita frowned. As the Messenger, she should be given the responsibility for naming anything related to the Rifts.


    ¡°Wh¡ªWhy do you think that a Savant was in¡ªinvolved? Sometimes, Guardians just a¡ªappear, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but very, very rarely. Plus I can sense if a Savant is around. I just can¡¯t, you know, pinpoint where exactly.¡± Nikita leaned back and crossed her arms. ¡°Savants usually get killed by the Guardians they summon, but particularly skilled Savants often survive. I, for one, am a hundred-percent sure that the Savant responsible for the attack is still in Kria.¡±


    ¡°Wh¡ªWhy do you think I know anything?¡±


    ¡°Your family owns the school, and you study there yourself. I assume you have your ear close to the ground.¡± Nikita assumed. ¡°Savants are never subtle. They¡¯re usually withdrawn, twitchy, and just generally very suspicious looking.¡±


    The girl seemed to shrink even smaller.


    ¡°I¡ªI uh, I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± Nikita said with a nervous sweat. ¡°You sorta fit the bill, but you don¡¯t look suspicious! In fact, you¡¯re quite the opposite! You¡¯re cute!¡±


    Nikita, you idiot. Since when was cute the opposite of suspicious?


    ¡°Either way, if you know anyone that fit that description, it would really help me out.¡±


    The girl didn¡¯t say anything, and merely continued to stare at the table. She fidgeted in place, her perfectly combed hair as still as the rest of the room. As much as it hurt to admit it, the girl was not a shining example of what a lady should be. She seemed so scared, so unsure of herself.


    ¡°Your Worship,¡± the representative, standing near the back of the room coughed. ¡°The castle-school has thousands of students and hundreds of faculty. While Her Grace is no doubt the heir of House Nakashima, she actually spends little time with the school¡¯s population.¡±


    ¡°I mostly just stay in the libraries.¡± Saori whispered. ¡°S¡ªStudying.¡±


    ¡°Quiet people are often very observant.¡± Nikita said, watching the girl.


    She continued to stare at Nakashima for a few more silent seconds, before crossing her arms and deciding to stand up.


    ¡°I see.¡± she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for putting you through this; it was very insensitive of me.¡±


    The girl¡¯s eyes snapped up in surprise.


    ¡°You should be resting, and here I am, probing you with questions about this and that.¡±


    Saori quickly rose rigidly as Nikita walked toward the door. The representative stepped back to let her pass, bowing respectfully. Nikita stopped by the door as it slid open, the hallway outside as quiet as ever.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see that you¡¯re doing well, Your Grace. I¡¯ll assign a small security detail to supplement your own guard, for a few weeks, at least¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªb¡ªbut.¡±


    ¡°¡ªand no, you can¡¯t refuse. I¡¯m doing this on my authority as the Messenger. Like it or not, you¡¯re an important person that might have been the reason why the Guardian was drawn into this world in the first place. Perhaps it was summoned to kill you, or something? I¡¯ll send a small contingent of protectors to guard you while you stay here in the Citadel.¡±


    Nikita glanced at the ceiling while she considered another thought.


    ¡°And¡­ if I can get in contact with him, I¡¯ll ask the other Messenger if he could lend a hand in keeping you safe.¡±


    ¡°The Butcher of Orison¡­¡± the representative whispered.


    ¡°He prefers to be called the Savior of Orison.¡± Nikita responded immediately. ¡°It sounds much more heroic that way.¡±


    ¡°I¡ªI apologize.¡± the representative bowed meekly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Nikita only smiled. ¡°You take care, Saori.¡±