Akashic Arcana The Day Before - ARCHIVED

[Katie]

The year 2153, 31st of August - 1 day before Academy starts

Viktoriya had recently returned from Moscow, over the course of the summer break, she had been called home by her father. What was assumed to be a lovely family come-together was soon replaced by another 3 weeks of bioaugmentation and evaluation of her 2nd year training. Truthfully, she could not wait to get back to Arcadia Academy and live out her final year of her youthful existence. When her term as Student Council President, and when she graduates by the end of June, she will have to return to her father, the Emperor of the Confederacy's side and fulfill her obligations as crown princess.

As Viktoriya arrived at the Council Hall Manor, she just started to take a moment to gaze upon the lone apple tree by the entrance. How things have changed in just what seemed like a short few weeks. Take the apple tree, for instance, a couple months back it was a wiry tangle of last season's growth, a mess of unruly twigs and over-long branches. Now she could see that the previous naked branches are dotted in buds. In the watery light of morning, they seem ethereal silvery blue that appears fluffy. Other than the paler brown of the snippet ends, they are the only color contrast against the wood that is a deeper brown tingled with the green of pioneering flora.

Looking at the apple tree and how quickly it changes only constitutes the unpredictable weather of the Earth. One week summer, other weeks winter or autumn. It was this radical climate change that forced the people of the old Earth to kill and wage war for resources. While nations come by today, due to the introduction of magic and engineering, it is no lie that there was something lurking in the shadows between these promises of peace.

Flash forward inside the Council Halls, Viktoriya was greeted by the servant staff that kept the Council's Manor running at best capacity.

"May I just say, congratulations on the election results, Lady Romanov." Astrophel the Headbutler, who prefers to just be called Astro, despite those venerable streeks of grey at his sides that he can no longer hide.

"You have my thanks, Astro. Make sure the returning Council Members are shown to their quarters. I will be at the office and look through this year's first years and the 2nd years' curriculum."

"Would you like me to prepare a set of Pearl Milk Tea and some light snacks while you work?" The old man smiled with such sincerity that for a moment, Viktoriya forgot that he was former Special Forces within the PACT Armed Forces.

Viktoriya considered for a moment, a soft smile began to spread from the corner of her lips. "Prepare one for two, and please send Ms. Saihara to the office. After all, she is the Secretary for this year."

The Student Council President offered a curtsey towards Astrophel, who in returned responded with a well-refined bow with his right arm crossed over his heart and chest. Viktoriya settled herself within the council room. It was just as she remembered it. Clean mahogany furniture and desk. She loved the aesthetic decor, instead of all the modern, clean, and sterile appearances of the former President's office.

As she seated down in a comfortable office chair at the end of the office desk, all of her work was right before her. She swept her hand across the mahogany desk, which suddenly lighted up from under the wood. A blue holographic interface with keyboards and a screen revealed itself. As she tapped on the keys, she felt the surge of harmless electrons that was giving off the illusion of tapping on a physical keyboard.

 

[Rue]

Xena had just been out for a jog around the campus when she received an email requesting her presence in the Student Council President's office. The scowl that appeared on her face could be seen across the campus. She didn't understand why that Russian princess chose her of all people to be the Secretary, it was just a distraction from Xena's true purpose, training. How would she prove to her parents that she could handle the responsibility of leading the Saihara family when she was being forced into these pointless activities?

The thoughts plagued her mind as she continued jogging to the Student Council Building. It was a problem the President wouldn't understand. She was born a royal, probably given everything she desired by a loving father. She never had to prove herself.

She'd worked herself up into a rage by the time she reached the Council building's front door. Upon her arrival, Astrophel, the head butler, held the door open for her. "Welcome, Ms. Saihara. Lady Romanov is expecting you." He said in that overly polite tone. She offered the man a nod and nothing else. She didn't understand how he could act so nice while having to serve others whom he was clearly above. It bothered her.

She let out a sigh of irritation as she reached the office doors. Knocking twice, she let herself in, making it clear to Viktoriya that she absolutely did not want to be her right now. "You wanted to see me, Madame President?" The formality dripping with sarcasm, showing her disdain for it all.

 

[Katie]

"Xena, it is good to see you."

Viktoriya responded with a disarming voice that only adds to her charisma. The Student Council President pushed herself up from the table before swiping her hand over the table, closing down the various of holo tabs she had opened. Vikki looked just like she did during her first year. Tall, well-composed and overall beautiful. She was shaped to be perfect, outwardly anyway. Her face and body were the theories of the perfect human proportions in practice. Pristine skin-pigmentation along with long, complimenting black hair that reached her tailbones. Adding her choice of clothes, she was a perfect modern version of a Princess.

The woman stepped towards Xena, a gentle smile was on her lips as she looked towards the silvery plate with tea and square cut sandwiches. She reached towards the stack of silk napkins before she took off a single piece. Obviously not fearing Xena's troublesome reputation, Viktoriya had already breached the girl's personal space, as she gently folded the napkin into a triangle before wiping off a small line of barely noticeable sweat with a gentle touch.

"I see you are still training hard, I expect nothing less from the heir of the Saihara Family." While she wasn't oblivious to the sarcasm or Xena's disdain for being conscripted into the Council, Viktoriya was always honest and her words were always sincere and truthful. And yet, her voice, it was like a subtle tone of warm butter. Like her vocal cords were laced with melted caramel and honey, and that soft, low, Slavic accent at the end of her sentences only added more to the attractiveness.

"I take you are familiar with the duties of a Secretary, Xena?"

 

[Rue]

Ever the picture of perfection, Vikki stood to greet her. Xena didn't know what to make of this girl, every time the two spoke it felt like she was being completely honest and yet hiding behind her charm at the same time. Her words were so sickeningly sweet that Xena knew they had to be fake, and yet they didn't feel fake. It flustered her to no end, which is why she tended to stay away. Didn't help that the Russian was drop dead gorgeous.

Xena considered herself attractive, a well toned figure with long platinum blond hair and piercing blue eyes. She certainly wasn't perfect like Vikki, but felt she had a more dangerous edge to her, making use of her off-putting alchemical tattoos that adorned more than half of her body.

The blonde flinched away from Viktoriya's touch, clearly uncomfortable with the invasive human contact. She gave a glare that warned the raven haired beauty not to try such a thing again. At her question, Xena folded her arms. "Take notes of all the topics discussed in the meetings, right? A task suited to any person comfortable with a desk job. We can skip the formalities, Viktoriya. What is it that you want from me?" She asked, her voice looking for confrontation.

 

[Katie]

Viktoriya looked towards Xena with an impassive expression, yet the corners of her lips had formed into a thin pleasant smile. She didn't seem to scare from the glare, but she did, however, back-off before properly discarding the napkin into a bin.

"You seem to misunderstand, while those are within the expected perimeters during meetings, our duties are to protect this school. While our capable Disciplinary Committee and its Captain's prime directive is that. We too are Guardians that must protect this peace. The Disciplinary Captain has his Lieutenant, and the President has her Secretary."

She walked towards the table again, this time, she bought up a holographic tap, where Xena's profile and stats from her 2nd year were shown. It revealed her academics, which were nearly flawless perfection. Just like her own. And not only that, she is ranked as one of the best mages in terms of combat rating in the Academy. There were, however, some remarks in regards to behavior, which weren't as clean as her scores.

"I did not choose you to make light of your abilities. In fact, I was hoping to make you my L'Ange Gardien..."

Vikki's purpose was to achieve compatibility with Xena and her Lightning Alchemy. After looking through the many current tiers of 3rd years, she found Xena to be the best partner in arms that covered the weaknesses in her own form. At the same time, with her troublesome records, it also helped to keep her in check, which was like two birds with one stone.

"I recall I never showed the extent of my Inherited Magic during last year's Tournament as I could not participate, due to an injury. But let me rectify the past. I have asked for the preparation of the Colosseum."

 

[Rue]

An eyebrow raised as the President kept talking. Xena's own posture seemed to relax as the Vikki moved away from her, taking a seat in one of the chairs opposite her as she listened. The more Viktoriya talked, the more Xena like what she was hearing. Protecting the school, showing how far she's come with a true challenge, maybe through that, she'll finally feel satisfied.

Then Viktoriya mentioned preparing the Coliseum and Xena's eyes widened in surprise. Was she suggesting what Xena thought, or did she mean to team the two of them together and see how they worked as a team?

"Well, you certainly know how to pique a girl's interest, Viktoriya. I'll bite. What's your challenge? One on one fight, or team up against some poor suckers? I have to admit, I'm curious to see what the crown Princess of the Confederacy can really do."

 

[Katie]

"Be careful what you wish for, Xena Saihara of the 7th Imperial Family. My people do not call me the Red Princess for nothing..." If only for a short moment of lost control. Viktoriya's eyes seemed to spark a red hue and her murder intent was bleeding into an overbearing sensation that shattered the picture of a benevolent Princess. It was the same sensation of predatorial fear. Like when you are nervous facing an opponent capable to end your life and your back is against the corner. A mage like Xena, however, wouldn't be at such mercy, but certainly, her battle lust may be as great Xena's, just she seems to contain it within herself for so long, that sometimes it just leaks out in these moments of killer instinct.

"School opens tomorrow, let us savor this moment before the gradings begin, Xena."

 

[Rue]

Heated red eyes met ice blue as a spark of electricity emanated from Xena's eyes. The tense gaze that the two women exchanged made Xena's heart race with excitement. There was more to this princess than meets the eye, and that fascinated her. She could feel it in her bones, their battle would be an intense exchange, a worthy challenge. The blonde couldn't wait.

"I think I misjudged you, Viktoriya Romanov. You might be one of the few mages in this school that's worth a damn. L'Ange Gardien, eh? I think I can manage that." She leaned back in her chair, a smirk adorning her face as she met the president's eyes, unafraid of whatever monster lay within her. Perhaps being the student council secretary wouldn't be so bad after all.

 

[Katie]

"I'll take that as high praises, coming from you, Xena." She grinned slightly at the mention of L'Ange Gardien, a title one of the former Union Council President gave to his secretary, the title became a niche that summed up the role of the secretary and the meaning it has for the council president.

It didn't take long before the two council members exited the Manor. A black car was waiting for them outside, and Astrophel stood with a calm composure, bowing towards the two ladies as he entered the driver's seat. Viktoriya didn't attempt to make small talk. For now, there was nothing to be said, even though she had been waiting to let herself loose one last time before the next year, she had to try and hide her pleasure for this coming battle.

As they arrived at the battle stage, it was as grand as she remembered it. The spectacular design of a closed off arena. Tall stone ridges had been raised by elemental magic and within were trees, fauna, and a river that split the entire battle-stage in half. Obviously, they did not have to activate the two bases, as this was a sanctioned duel, not a team game for the Tournament. Viktoriya took the lead as the two mages walked down the river until they reached the center of the arena. Tall hills and rocky walls surrounded them. At least, they had freedom of mobility.

"I will take it as a personal insult, if you think of not giving your best, Xena." Viktoriya said with a wide grin this time before she reached to tie her long hair into a tight pony-tail.

Spoiler: Map Layout

 

[Rue]

She took a deep breath of air, letting the power of battles past engulf her senses. The entire car ride over here had only succeeded in getting her more excited. As they reached the center of the map, she watched her president take her position opposite her, tying her hair back into a ponytail.

Xena took this prep time to stretch out her arms and legs, making sure each limb was loose and limber. She didn't know what Viktoriya's range was so she had to be prepared to retreat to a distance should close combat not favor her. Xena wasn't a fool when it came to combat, she valued results over flair, and if that meant sticking to Zeus' bolt to take advantage of a close quarters only opponent, that's what she'd do.

"Don't worry, Princess. I always give it my best." She quipped back, reciprocating the grin as she banged her fists together. They sparked with electricity, as did her legs, her tattoos glowed a dim blue, she'd activated Thor's Hammers. All she could do now is enter a battle ready stance, and wait for the match to begin.

 

[Katie]

Viktoriya respectfully falls back to make an even distance between them. She knew of Xena from her student files, but it was different to try her out in practice than just in theory. Close-range specialist and even powerful ranged attacks. Along with the Saihara variation of Thunderstep. Xena will be a formidable foe.

At the Academy, she was taught common Sequence Magic Techniques that were used for attack pattern. She could not materialize the sequences without drawing out the spells, but if anything, Viktoriya was always resourceful.

When the sound of battle echoed through the entire battlefield, it meant that their duel had begun. Viktoriya extended her right hand, as her index finger glowed with a bright red light. She began to draw a rune sequence at a remarkable pace, completing it within 10 seconds.

The red rune was drawn into the air with Viktoriya's residual mana, it was a simple, yet, difficult technique, as she had to keep her mana stable in the air to form this segment. Due to the sequence of drawing, Xena could easily determine what kind of attack Viktoriya was performing. The seals of Helios, with the Six Stars of the Advent. She was going to launch a consecutive strike of six firebolts.

As Viktoriya finished the final connecting line, the magic of the rune worked. The lines that bound the smaller circles together shattered and the small sigils warped itself into six floating orbs of fire at the size of the fireball is spherical with a circumference of 30 (about the size of a basketball). Swiftly, the orbs of fire began to move in a fast based linear attack towards the blonde. Each packed enough blast for Viktoriya to not worry about hitting the mark. She sent the fireballs to strike down in a spread to add into the area of effect. Once connecting all around to the ground of Xena, the fireballs would explode into a fiery cataclysm.

 

[Rue]

A Confederate drawing runes, there was no way that Xena was going to fall for such an amateur mistake. She wanted Xena to close in and attack hand to hand, that's where the trap was hidden. It spoke volumes to Xena, Viktoriya was a close range fighter, so she needed to keep ranged.

As Viktoriya began crafting the runes, Xena sprinted towards her, her enhanced speed easily closing the gap between the two, if Viktoriya finished carving the rune and unleashing the fireballs, she risked catching herself in the blast. Then, when she was about 20 meters away, Xena slid to a stop, holding out her hands and unleashing the Shocking Grasp. A large current of electricity emanated forth from her hands, heading straight towards the SCP.

At its current strength, the electricity would only stun and immobilize Viktoriya if it connected. Allowing Xena time to plot her next move.

 

[Katie]

Viktoriya grinned as Xena acted within one of the 4 possibilities she had predicted may happen in response to her attack. When the fireballs were launched into the air, the Shocking Grasp sent out a wave of electricity that detonated the explosions mid-way in their flight. The blast wave of the fireballs was like explosives, it sent out a rippling shockwave into the air that distorted the path of the Shock Grasp's electricity, thus, send the lightning crackling at random locations that didn't meet its intended mark.

Due to the condensed heat and blast of the fire, the oxygen was filled with smog, as a black smoke-screen obscured vision between the two combatants.

She grinned before activating her Mana Burst at moderate strength. She detonated an internal explosion of mana within herself, causing a soft disruption in the air before she moved at dazzling speed due to the pressure built up around her body. In essence, it was a cheap copy of Jupiter's Wings. While it lacked the same speed, it didn't come with a backlash effect.

Once the smoke cleared up, the Class President disappeared from her location. Xena could just her a single step in the river behind her, but once she turns around to have a look, Viktoriya was already in the air, leaping towards her with eyes red like blood. Her right arm had completely morphed into a wicked ebony blade. Its edge looked sharp to the touch, the material seemed harder than common steel. Yet, she was not playing around, the massive blade was surging towards Xena's chest.

 

[Rue]

Her Shocking Grasp detonated the fireballs, scattering the electrical sparks every way except the direction she'd intended. Smoke filled her vision, causing her to tear up. She quickly ran towards the end of the smoke, when she heard a distinct energy rushing sound. Emerging from the smoke unscathed, she had enough time to predict that the sound she heard must've been a movement based spell.

The step in the river was all she needed to hear, turning as she moved away from the river, her eye's widened as she saw the bladed mass of flesh that was Viktoriya's hand. She dropped Thor's Hammers finally, knowing this would be a ranged fight for her, and activated Jupiter's Wings. The electrical aura swirled around her bursting her body backwards up and over the hill behind Viktoriya.

Once she was safely out of range, Xena took a quick breather to let the pain coursing through her arms and legs calm itself, before beginning to form Zeus' Bolt. It would take 4 seconds to fully form the javelin, she could only hope she hid well enough to stump Viktoriya briefly.

 

[Katie]

Viktoriya swiftly showed her control of the blade-arm, as well as her control over her body as she changed an initial thrusting strike into a swift decapitating slash. However, due to Xena's speed, only an afterimage was left of where the woman once stood, causing Vikki's attack to merely slice into an optical illusion. The speed of Jupiter's Wings was impressive to witness first hand and the Secretary had completely erased her presence due to the distance traveled. Viktoriya couldn't sense where Xena was, and she dejectedly sighed.

Her massive blade rested against the floor and gave off a metallic echo as the edge met the rocky ground. Her arm began to morph, the sword starting to break down into a mass of tendrils of black flesh before the shape of her human arm came into view. The transformation took no time to switch between.

However, Viktoriya did not make any effort to hide or move, instead, she just stood in the middle of open space, waiting for Xena to make her move. Viktoriya's eyes were closed.

 

[Rue]

Xena was comforted by the fact that Viktoriya hadn't sensed her current location. Zeus's bolt fully formed, she listened for any sounds of movement. Upon hearing none, she slowly and stealthily crept up the hill to peek over the top. There she saw the President, standing still with her eyes apparently closed. She was slow and deliberate in her actions, careful to level her javelin and take advantage of the element of surprise while she still had it.

Bio-augmentation, it made the president fast, but Xena was faster. She took aim and fired Zeus' bolt in a direct trajectory with Viktoriya. The bolt is surprisingly fast once thrown, traveling the 90 meters in mere seconds. After releasing the bolt, Xena quickly began forming another and preparing for Viktoriya's counter attack.

 

[Katie]

The spark of electricity in the air, the boom of a thunderstrike. It all gave away the location of where the strike came from. Viktoriya leaped back into the air as she performed a swift flip, paired with the mana burst that she released, causing her movements to look exponentially fast. Her arm morphed into a blade before she even touched the ground. As the lightning bolt came, she was face to face with this spark of thunder. She grinned, turning her head and body side-ways before she bought up her sword arm, splitting the thunderbolt between her metallic black blade. As the thunderbolt was split, it tore into two halves that pierced the skies and the ground. Sparks of orange flame was produced from contact with her blade as the area where Zeus' Bolt touched were searing orange.

Burst after Burst, Viktoriya exploded towards Xena with speed that looked like a short amount of teleportations. Each time she dashed, she would release a Mana Burst, increasing the mana-cost and strength of each burst. This only added up to her acceleration speed, and within a few seconds, she had traveled the same distance of the thunderbolt.

She jumped into the air, her blade held into an axis over her head as she looked down at Xena while being above her from the leap. She had such a malicious grin on her lips. Her eyes were red, and it seems like residual red mana was leaking from her tear-ducts due to all the mana bursts. After all, mana usually takes the appearance of a blue light, but being a homunculus, Viktoriya's mana color was blood red.

If Xena didn't react, Viktoriya attempted to slash down her sword arm into a vertical axis, with enough force to a cleave a human in two. If she dodges the attack and the blade meets the ground, the force from the added Mana Burst momentum and her own homunculi attack would be gathered to her blade. When the blade touches the ground, the forest floor would split open, and a shockwave emerging in a straight line that was a destructive wave motion blast.

 

[Rue]

The bio-augmentation seemed to enhance Vikki's reaction time as well, as she managed to flip, unsheathe her arm blade, and split the bolt in half, only searing the blade on impact. It looked like it would hurt on anyone else, but Viktoriya didn't even flinch. It was frustrating but at the same time exhilarating to behold, so against her better judgment, she let a smile cross her face.

The bursts were intense as Viktoriya accelerated towards her, it was the jump in the air that was her mistake. All momentum stopped for Viktoriya while up there, allowing a prediction of the arc and where the sword would land. With that in mind, Xena sprinted forward in the direction Viktoriya had just came from, leaping forward once she hit a slope in the hill. Her body rotating in mid air, she fired her second javelin at a point in Viktoriya's arc where she would be a few meters above the ground. If she didn't stop her attack to block the bolt, it would hit her in the back sending searing pain all throughout her body.

 

[Katie]

Viktoriya couldn't make any more mana bursts due to being in the air and not having a connection to the ground. The blast smashed into her back, tearing open a clean circle in her clothes as she is sent smashing into the ground. Adding her own momentum from all the mana bursts, this attack would have killed a person. Each time she hit the ground, a bone cracked somewhere in her body as she was repeatedly rolling across the ground before finally being stopped a rocky hill. She smashed into the hill, only breaking apart large sections of rock until she carved a personal image of herself into the rock.

As her body fell to the ground, her limps were all twisted. Broken and bloodied. Her neck also seemed to have made a 180 degrees turn, her eyes blank for just a moment. It didn't take long forever, for her bioaugmentation and cellular regeneration to kick in. It was like watching a horror movie as Viktoriya stood up on her feet as if someone was pulling the strings to a marionette doll from above. She stood on her broken legs, and slowly enough, her neck snapped as it repositioned itself to its original position. The sound of her bone shifting was painful to sit through as every single fracture and wound were being pushed back to how they were.

Suddenly she gasped, panting almost before flexing both of her hands as she had reverted them back into fists. However, Viktoriya slowly ran her hands over her hair and face, wiping off residual blood on her face before looking towards Xena with an ominous smile.

"... Aaah... if that had been anyone else... they would have been dead ..."

 

[Rue]

The impact was much harder than Xena had predicted. She hadn't been expecting Vikki to put that much force into her attack. Xena let out a scream of panic as she saw her president rolling down the hill, quickly climbing back up it to see what had happened. The sight was gastly, limbs broken and twisted every which way, and her eyes totally blank. "OH MY GODS!" Xena screamed, her hands clasping around her mouth in horror.

Though the horrendous imagery had only just begun as Viktoriya's body quickly began reassembling itself, every crack of a bone resetting made the blonde flinch, and when she finally resembled an unbroken human again, Xena rushed over to her. "Holy shit! Viktoriya, I'm so sorry. I misjudged how much power you were going to use, and that sent you sprawling. This is all my fault, please tell me you're ok." She babbled, tears starting to run down her face. She'd truly believed that she had killed Vikki for a moment, and the grief she was feeling was unbearable.