Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 13, 2023 16:04:43 GMT
Located in a medium sized building on campus is Kamihama City University's gym, a large semi open area for fitness; its got just about everything you'd need, tread mills, bike machines, weights, punching bags, mirrors and a water fountain. Its got just about everything you'd need for your needs.
Not a student at the University, no issue, join up with a small members monthly fee. Which is only marginally cheaper than the other private ones in the city itself, but it has just about something for everyone, and the staff are always welcome to new comers and regulars alike.
Just, wipe stuff down when your finished.
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 13, 2023 17:10:42 GMT
The Gyms off hours where decently calm, the music they played, so so. Kura didn't mind, she just liked going before lectures and before she had stuff too do. Sitting over by the weights she looked over the initial ones she'd pick out, 25kg would do to start, she lifted some out, and looked them over, then found a place to sit down and work on her arm strength, but, today her mind wasn't set on getting stronger, it was more onto the question of, what now? She'd made her wish, and become a magical girl, but-. She didn't really feel like one, hell she didn't really know what one was.
She looked at her arms as the flexed, and relaxed, maybe she needed a heavier weight. She picked out 35 KG and set one in both hands, and pondered what she was too do now. She certainly felt, stronger, faster too. Maybe it was, a placebo or something, she, was a magical girl, the soul gem she's strung around her neck proved that true. What was she too do now. Her mind distant, she thought a little about how it had happened; a little white ferret thing told her it could grant her any thing she wanted, the childhood dream she'd had since small seemed fitting to wish for, but, well, she was a magical girl now, and, what was she meant to be doing, maybe, asking a few more questions before hand would have been, best - but whats done is done now she was a gladiator, a childhood dream, and something she practically already was; high-school, despite good grades, she'd gotten into fights bi-weekly lost a few, but steel sharpened steel, and she started to win them, then college, she'd joined a boxing club, and well, while banned permanently from it after like 3 fights, she rocked the shit out of her 3 opponents, but, I mean, that wasn't like, gladiatorial persay.
she really did, crave that, what where magical girls even meant to fight anyhow? Yeah, she'd probably have to find that little fella, ferret, what ever it was called, she didn't really remember, it all seemed, kinda unreal.
She put down her weights, wiped them down, and thought about, where to start looking.
Her eyes drifted over to the sirens call of the punching bag, okay, maybe, she'd think about that more over, while- She put the equipment back, and walked over to the punching bag, sharpening her steel a little. Then, then she'd find, that, Kyu? Ah yeah, that's what it called its self, something like that.
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 14, 2023 14:03:01 GMT
There's nothing quite like the potential of a fresh contract.
At least, if their kind could have emotional reactions to having their favourite thing happen... or have something as an emotional 'favourite', rather than simply a 'logically preferred outcome'.
Nevertheless, that was why the Prime Operations Coordinator was now walking along the railing of the gym's upper balcony with the silence of a cat.
He was not alone. Following shortly after his tail was what looked like a bizarre negative image of himself: black fur in place of white, and features that were no doubt on the opposite end of the light spectrum: shades of blue, where the redder details should be.
<<This contractee is not even in the Union,>> the Neuromodular Clinician, Ichibey, transmitted, <<This unit would serve its purpose better elsewhere.>>
Kyubey did not even look back, as he stopped to watch over Kura working the punching bag down below. <<If our intent is to facilitate her admission into the Union, then it is beneficial to introduce her to the idea of Companions. Your unit need not necessarily become her Companion. However, its purpose in this context is to illustrate the existence of multiple Companion variants.>>
He turned to look the black and blue incubator in the eyes, both pairs apparently staring blankly at each other.
<<Is that logical?>>
Ichibey blinked before answering, as if taking a split second to think. <<Yes. It is logical>>
<<Then let us proceed.>> Taking the lead, Kyubey jumped down to the first floor, and made his way over to a short distance from Kura's side, watching quietly as she boxed as Ichibey caught up and sat next to him.
Whether she noticed him first or he started talking first, it was not really important.
The key here was that a conversation be initiated. "I see you're testing out your improved physique. Is it to your liking?"
[311/311/1]
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 14, 2023 15:30:52 GMT
At first she didn't notice Kyubey next to her, she was no stranger to feeling her body complain, with every hit, she sent the bag further back, each one leaving a larger crater than before, but she noticed something was indeed wrong here, she paused and regestered Kyubey's question. She guessed the added strength must have came from her wish. Kura gave the punching bag a quick left hook and paused to look at her knuckles for a moment, then down Kyubey "Yeah, its strange, I do feel stronger-" She punched the bag as hard as she could with a right jab, the bag bouncing and making a heavy noise as it bowed and buckled before returning to to hanging free, Kura paused, and looked down at her hand, "But, I can't feel as much of the impact anymore." She said, She hit the bag again, with a heavy BANG the skin on her knuckles broke a bit, it only sought to prove her theory.
She turned her hand over to look at the top, small spats of red ran along the top, like frayed tree bark. "Its there, but I can't feel it,-" She looked down at Kyubey to add "-that normal for anyone else?"
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 15, 2023 15:22:35 GMT
The Prime Operations Coordinator tilted his head and stared at her hand, taking in her comments on her condition.
<<This one is quite observant,>> Ichibey noted, his tail swishing once, to the left. <<Do contractees usually notice this?>>
Kyubey maintained his gaze upon Kura's hand, his tail swaying in its own peculiar pattern. <<Not the numbing of the pain, no. And not usually this early. It happens sometimes. This situation is understandable, though. She is, after all, at 18, a borderline case.>>
He formulated a simple, calculated explanation using his knowledge base and her own words. "That is correct, Kura. One of the benefits of your contract is becoming more resistant to pain. A more durable body should reasonably come packaged with an increased tolerance to damage. Extreme pain can be quite debilitating, distracting you from finishing off a Hex, and potentially giving it an opportunity to strike back."
Kyubey paused to blink, and lick his paw. "A Wishmaker's healing factor is also greatly enhanced compared to normal humans. Give those knuckles a minute, and they'll be good as new."
Ichibey blinked, before transmitting. <<I've seen others go through this before, and this process appears to be highly inefficient. Why not adjust her neuromodulators to reduce her curiosity on the matter and save yourself the time of having to explain all this?>>
<<Consent is the civil approach. Is sapience not deemed the baseline for being allowed free negotiation?>> Kyubey remained looking in Kura's direction.
<<It is still quite inefficient, nonetheless,>> Ichibey insisted. <<I've browsed earlier reports, and you were on record explaining the Soul Gem's foundational mechanisms as soon as this pain discrepancy was noted. Why not here?>>
<<We gain nothing from her despair,>> If Kyubey could feel resignation, he would have sighed. <<Given the Magius' Doppel Barrier, the ascension to Witchdom would be suppressed. There will be time to increase her productivity. For now, as humans say, we should let her cook.>>
[323/634/2]
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 15, 2023 20:47:12 GMT
Kura nodded to the explanation she'd received it made sense, she guessed, practically and from her own experience, yeah, breaking something, kinda hurt if you didn't have adrenaline pumping through you, she looked down at the frayed raw skin on her knuckles, and saw with a light blue ember coal light, that seemed to dance and float like ash, as the skin crept back into place, scabs didn't even get the chance to form, and it was back to normal. She studded it a silent appreciation for it so her body had been, adapted for more efficient combat. She guessed that there was probably some other additions made as well, she'd find them out as she went on. She felt her gaze drift from her fist to kyubey, then to the punching bag. "Right then." she muttered to herself before smashing a fist into it heavy, and again. She'd test her new abilities.
BANG! she hit the bag as hard as she could, the sound like a heavy crash, she didn't pause, again, and again. With the gaze of a blacksmith, determination in her eyes to see what the limit to her improvements where, a improvised test, as again, with a reserved yet still hot ferocity, began to smash the punching bag, with each blow, she noticed a numb feeling. That, wasn't what she expected, but it made sense, kyubey by her side was right, her body had been made better. Adapted more for combat. With every successive hit the music of the gym was slowly drown out by the sounds of Kura beating the punching bag.
She did this for a while, not making any other noise, she beat the punching bag over and over again, striking the same point with a dead pan face and narrowed eyes with focus, until it tore, spilling sand across the floor as she looked over at the break she'd put into the fabric outcase, she looked down at her hand, the skin crawling back over exposed muscle like seeking ivy, until it was back. She flexed her fist and nodded. "Yeah, certainly." Her eyes fixed on her again healed knuckles.
Not really considering the fact she'd broken the punching bag, but they'd get another one; probably.
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 16, 2023 15:47:17 GMT
Kyubey watched quietly as Kura took in his explanation, and began testing the limits of her augmentations. To say that she was abusing her fists was not necessarily wrong. After all, her point was to see just how much her skin would break.
As it turned out, a leather vessel filled with sand was a very resilient target, and it took a few tries before she finally managed to break it open. The cost was fairly small compared to the expected injuries that would be sustained from fighting against Hexes. The skin on her knuckles and the finger space in between them ruptured in what would most certainly be agonising pain to normal people. Muscle was visible.
"These improvements are of course in place for practical reasons," Kyubey started explaining. Though perhaps, given her age and presumed mental maturity - even if she did make the wish more emotionally so - it should be easy for her to figure it out for herself. "I'm sure you can tell what they are. But if you have any uncertainties, don't hesitate to ask."
<<Is it time yet?>> Ichibey inquired. <<It is inefficient to allow this unit to continue consuming increased levels of my attention bandwidth if you will be prolonging this expose on her augmentations.>>
Kyubey briefly turned to face his associate. <<It is necessary to allow her to decide by herself, whether or not she has anything else to ask. If she has nothing more to say on the matter, then your unit's introduction will have its time.>>
If impatience was a feeling, then perhaps Ichibey should rein it in, lest he end up institutionalised for being emotional.
[275/909/3]
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 16, 2023 16:24:47 GMT
Kura paused, they where right, her body had changed... For the better in her opinion, she'd known more than her fair share of fights, and, being stronger, more numb to critical damage, it was a rather good deal, not even adding in the factor that she'd gotten her wish, and could fight stuff now, so there was that, she guessed for most the draw back would have been a life time off battle. But, that was always something she'd wanted, glory and combat, so to her the whole ordeal now was win win for her.
She nodded in agreement, "Yeah, they are, to my liking to answer you're early question." She said with a smile. Taking a moment to flex the muscles of her arms. A small smile crept across her face, she quickly smothered it, a notification on her phone, she looked at it and read it over, reading that her lecture for the day had been canceled, she nodded to herself, putting her phone away. "Well, when I made my wish, you said I had to fight, stuff." she smiled and cracked her knuckles. "Lets go find something to fight then." She said with a smile, reaching out a hand to pause over the incubators cat like body, pondering if she should pet it like a cat.
Her blue eyes looking at it with expecting determination.
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 17, 2023 16:00:12 GMT
Understanding the cue was easy when you had thousands of years of experience watching humans treat domesticated cats, and emulating their movements. Without missing a beat, Kyubey nuzzled Kura's outstretched palm with his head, intending to remove any hesitation she might have had about giving him a pat.
Once that was done, he circled around Ichibey to bring him to her attention, before leading the way to the nearest exit. "In that case, let's go. If you don't mind, my associate, Ichibey, will explain this part."
There wasn't even a microsecond of delay before Ichibey stood and followed, seamlessly picking up where the Prime Operations Coordinator left off. "While there are four major threats in this city that a Wishmaker can choose to fight, only one is necessarily stipulated in your contract."
The other three were technically optional, but they were welcome engagements. The two incubators led the way out the door and onto the sidewalk, before hopping up onto a nearby fence. The view was simply more effective from up there. It was a clear day, and students were going about their way, walking to and from classes at varying rates. Some were relaxing, either through a blank period, or simply cutting a class due to that vaunted university freedom.
Ichibey continued, lagging behind to maintain a similar cadence with Kura "That threat is Witches. It is necessary for a Wishmaker to defeat them, lest they spread and consume all of the human race. If you would prefer to hear more about Witches, or learn about the other threats, feel free to ask."
Was this kind of like a video game tutorial? Perhaps. Kyubey would be lying if he didn't admit to having some influence on the evolution of gaming. One would be surprised at the number of wishes that had, directly or otherwise, made modern entertainment the way it was.
[312/1221/4]
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 18, 2023 16:56:49 GMT
She smiled at being able to pet Kyubey it was something she did want to do since she'd first seen it. It lead her attention over Ichibey it was the first time she'd seen the other one, it wasn't some large shock to her, she just assumed some of, what ever Kyubey and Ichibey was, probably just had fur patterns that could vary. She smiled flatly at it for a moment. Before following them out the door, she did stop for a moment to apologize to staff for breaking the punching bag. Then quickly followed behind them after clearing that up.
She listened to the other one speak, as she followed them outside. She knew what a witch was; in that they where bad and she had to fight them. But other threats, that she'd probably need to be briefed on. "So, what are the other threats I will be facing?" She asked looking over at Ichibey. She held out her hand to flex it, looking around to see if there was anyone about to summon her weapon just to make sure it was clean properly, there was, so it stayed in her- She didn't actually know, gem? Where ever it was kept, it stayed.
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 19, 2023 16:18:34 GMT
In order of priority, at least as far as Juubey was concerned, the second most important threat was the Wings of Magius. Of course, that was only from the perspective of operational security. Most of the Companions agreed to follow the standard convention. Witches always came first.
And as Kura chose to inquire about the next threat, Ichibey obliged, noting how she telegraphed a desire to inspect her weapon. Of course with the witnesses going about the busy campus sidewalk and road, that was naturally unwise. Kyubey was still leading the way, but a quick transmission of this observation had him move toward the nearest dark alley instead.
Ichibey followed, and started with an acknowledgement. "If you would like to inspect your armament, then we will take a quick detour to someplace more private." As the two Companions went in the direction of that alley, the Neuromodular Clinician addressed the new contractee's immediate concern. "Kamihama is an unusual city. We still aren't quite sure just why yet."
They had a hunch, of course. It all boiled down to the Wings of Magius. But just how was still a mystery. Ichibey followed as Kyubey leapt down from the fence, hopping up a series of pipes as they neared the alley, and the number of people lessened. "Because of this anomaly, other threats have arisen. The first of these are Daemons. They appear to be related to Witches. But instead of charming them with a cursed kiss, they stalk humans like predators, instigating fear and paranoia. Once their victims are unstable, they strike."
As if on cue, Ichibey stopped to swipe his paw at a nearby falling leaf, pinning it to the pavement. "Stranger than these are Rumours. As the name implies, they are living forms of hearsay, gossip, urban legends... Rather than charming or hunting humans, they only attack those who have heard their story and somehow gotten themselves involved."
The Companion stopped and turned around, looking up at Kura's eyes with his own blue stare. "These stories tend to have a how-to nature, with actionable steps that mark you as a target. It's possible you've already heard of one yourself, depending on how widespread it is. Does anything come to mind?"
[371/1592/5]
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 20, 2023 0:00:10 GMT
She nodded and followed the two incubators, listing to their words. Deamons, like, demons? That would be a issue, she agreed. She entered into the back alley and held out her hand, summoning her chain axe, she looked at the duel axe-head, that let a toothed chain run down the middle of it, teeth bearing just outside the blades point, the red weapon made with a goreish intent, the gold rim that let too a unpainted steel edge. She took a moment to look at it. It didn't seem to fir her ascetic of Rome and her heavily legionaries inspired armour, but both incubators could knew that some subconscious knowledge could effect a magical girls form, so perhaps it was a look into what she might have looked like in her magical girl form if she hadn't probably willed it to be like that.
she looked at it for a moment, checking the sensitivity on the trigger for it, careful not to gun the trigger of it. Then she paused to think, living rumors? She'd never heard something like that before, but she paused to rack her memory; Putting her weapon away, she thought about it, hell it was only recently she'd realized on of the regulars in the cafe she used to work at in Frekuya city was a magical girl. She thought about that, and something was strange, it was like, her features where erased, no blacked out, censored maybe? All she could remember was her coat, and that she wore her soul gem distinctively around her throat. Like Kura did, she'd been doing that without realizing.
"I don't think so." She paused, she had, "Uhh, I think I heard one." She adds trying to rack her mind to recall it properly, she had over head it in a cafe when she first came here, before she'd became a magical girl. "Uhh, the group." she paused to repeat it as she'd heard it more clearly. "Have you heard? That there was a magica group, they where big and mean, and where lost in a storm over night, how strange." She paused for a moment trying to remember more of it, but drawing a blank. "That's about it, is that one?" she asked the two incubators, with a confused but not strange look.
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 20, 2023 17:13:40 GMT
The two Companions watched in detail as Kura examined her weapon more thoroughly. While it was true that it wasn't exactly the kind of thing you would find in a gladiatorial match - Kyubey could attest, he was around back then - it was entirely a result of Kura's own person. The specifics weren't something that any contractee would bother listening too, as it was simply a matter of minutia. Suffice it to say, it was an intertwining of the wish, soul, and so on.
As she repeated as best she could a rumour she had heard about, the two Companions turned to face each other, almost perfectly in synch, and exchanged transmissions. <<It's a match for a recently emerging case.>>
<<Juubey can confirm that it is notable for investigation.>> Not that Juubey had it as his highest priority. It simply fell under his purview of external threats. But as far as priorities went, his main concern was the final threat on the list.
Ichibey was the first to look back at Kura after this exchange. "Yes, this Phantom Troupe Rumour is something currently under investigation. It's quite new, actually."
Kyubey then followed. "The Kamihama Magia Union, an association of Wishmakers based in the city, should already have resources allocated to dealing with it." It was against those Wishmakers' immediate self-interest, given Rumours did not drop seeds. But it was understandable, given their ethical priorities of protecting humans. In the old days, this was a helpful thing, as it would result in a faster transition to Witchdom. In this city, however, that was no longer necessarily the case. It did, however, serve its purpose to make the Union attractive to outsiders with similar ethical beliefs. "We could approach them for more information about this Rumour later on, if you'd like."
He glanced at Ichibey, more for to give Kura a hint, rather than to get the black and blue Companion's attention. Ichibey obliged. "The last threat is perhaps the most insidious: There is a dangerous terrorist organisation in this city, a group consisting of renegade magical girls who we believe are behind these Rumours."
Kyubey swayed his tail and licked his paw to groom himself. Whatever to look animated. "We're not quite sure how, exactly. But we have seen them spreading word about Rumours. Some have even tricked other magical girls into falling for the Rumours' trigger conditions. It really is quite devious."
A car passed by the alley, its headlights briefly causing a glint in Ichibey's eyes. "They call themselves... the Wings of Magius."
[423/2015/6]
|
|
Kura (don01h)
Muggle
We love Rome in this magical girl group.
Posts: 16
|
Post by Kura (don01h) on Dec 20, 2023 18:40:46 GMT
Kura nodded, they would be a problem. These, magius. The wings of the magius, she didn't know how to feel about them, but if they where killing innocent people and terrorists, it was all the information she really needed on the matter of them. But these living rumours they seemed also like a problem. As for something else she'd just learned about, the Magia Union they didn't sound all that bad really, as long as they kept people safe. She'd probably 'ave a look at them herself, probably not join, but have a look around, she got the feeling that, both of the, kyubeys. she didn't actually know what their species was called. Wish-granters, that made sense enough to her, that the wish-granters were right. There was probably something going on in this city. She felt like she wanted to look into it, but, she'd be best to get a feel for the whole magical girl thing first, not rush in and end up blood in the drains.
"So, we got, witches, deamons, and terrorists?" She said with a mix of making sure she had everything right, and confusion. She just wanted to make sure she had everything correct. While she had the chance to calmly talk to the two of them.
|
|
|
Post by Ichibey on Dec 21, 2023 18:12:53 GMT
"That is correct," Ichibey nodded. "Among these, as someone getting started, you'll want to focus on Witches."
The Companion stood and jumped up one of the pipes running along the side of the alley, as if preparing to go. "As you use your magic, be it attacking, or even regenerating, your Soul Gem will gradually accumulate magical taint. Witches drop items called Grief Seeds, which can be used to purify your Soul Gem of that taint."
"If you're in a bit of a bind," Kyubey added, climbing up onto Kura's shoulder, "You can also avail of the services of an Adjuster, a rare support Wishmaker who can purify your Soul Gem in exchange for a currency that they call 'Griefbucks'."
The economics of the matter made sense. The Union was rather crafty in developing such a currency. It would make trade and the exchange of Wishmaker-exclusive goods and services more efficient. And of course, all those Grief Seeds locked away were just a big energy payout waiting to happen.
"Now to start hunting, you'll need to find a Witch, or one of its familiars, which should lead you back to its master's lair." Ichibey looked at the Soul Gem around Kura's neck. "As with everything else, your Soul Gem is the key here. If you focus on it, it should be able to tell you whether a Hex or its familiars are nearby, or have been in the area recently."
Again, Kyubey added a little bit more information, "Hex is simply the general term we use to refer to both Witches and Daemons. While the latter are a recent phenomenon, we've determined that both of them are born from curses - the opposite of a Wishmaker, born of hopes and wishes." He stared at Ichibey, as if giving the proverbial mic back to him.
To which Ichibey nodded. "Give it a try! Who knows? There might be one not too far away."
[321/2336/7]
|
|