[center][h3][b][color=9955cc][u]Juno, Eclipse Princess[/u][/color][/b][/h3][/center] [color=9966cc]“You don’t need to worry with me,”[/color] Was Juno’s reply to Omega’s concern about she losing to the recently arrived boss, [color=9966cc]“even if that happened, Hoho said I would get it. I’ll take Cely with me when I’m back home. I can’t wait to see her now.”[/color] Juno said. Her voice was soft and caring, as if the purple-clad warrior were talking about someone very important to her, which was likely the case, considering Hohenheim’s offer from the beginning of the trials. [color=9966cc]“Anyway, you should get going now. Windy gets mad very easily, if you stay here, she might end up hurting you,”[/color] that was the last thing Juno said to the glowing specter, before he too disappeared toward Hohenheim’s chambers. The symphony of battle echoed even louder as Juno and the wind spirit, better known by the name Windy. [center][h3][b][color=gold][u]Hohenheim, the Alchemist of Genesis[/u][/color][/b][/h3][/center] The Alchemist rolled a pair of dice, each having a pair of sides painted black, white and red, in her right hand as she observed the unfolding of the last stages of her first experiment in a while. Hohenheim regarded everything with an arrogant smirk stamping her face, until Hibiki’s question caught her attention. [color=gold]“Heh, it’s just a crooked nail sticking out of place, nothing to give much mind to. If nothing else, an specimen like you would much more entertaining to work with. I assure you I return all particles to their rightful place and energy state… mostly.”[/color] [color=gold]“What a pity, our time seems to be cut short,”[/color] Hohenheim said to Hibiki as Syphax crossed into the chamber, [color=gold]“fetch us some more of those cookies and tea. We don’t want our guests think we are uncultured barbarians, do we?”[/color] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/i6fLcHF.png[/img][/center] [color=gold]“If that’s the issue, then it’s easy to solve,”[/color] The Alchemist said to the harpy warrior, throwing one of the tricolor dice at his feet. A moment later, a crushing pain would assail his damaged limbs as bone, tendon and muscles remade themselves at a far faster rate than normal. In a moment Syphax’s leg would be as good as new, except for any phantom pain that might linger after the sudden reconstruction. [color=gold]"Anyway, given that you are the first to arrive here, I'll grant my favor to your legion. In addition, you can state one request of your own, as long as it's not too outlandish, I shall grant it,"[/color] Hohenheim said, flashing her best million dollar smirk at Syphax. [color=gold]"Oh, be quick about it, please. There's a line waiting to do it as well."[/color] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/i6fLcHF.png[/img][/center] [color=gold]"If that's all both of you want, why don't you side with the Angels instead of the Machina?"[/color] Hohenheim asked of both Shizuka and Bonesword as they named their requests. [color=gold]"I'm sure that that Celestial Workaholic— erm, Iona would be more than glad to grant this stuff to. Well, maybe not to the Sack-o'-Bones, but I'm sure she would want to indoctrinate another no-nonsense Heavens sucker."[/color] [color=gold]"Anyway, that's not my problem at all,"[/color] The Alchemist shrugged as she stood up and moved closer to Shizuka with a devious smirk in he lips. Before Hohenheim would do whatever she had in mind, she threw the other dice to Bonesword. If he caught it up, he would find a heavy, black long sword ornamented with delicate gold trimmings along the handle and blade. In fact, that wasn't a weapon far too dissimilar in looks to those wielded by Iona herself. [color=gold]"That's what you asked for,"[/color] Hohenheim said, [color=gold]"This blade will get lighter and easier to use whenever your inner demons. Just be aware, if you go too far down the road of redemption, who knows what will become of you? Hehehe."[/color] Having finished addressing Bonesword, Hohenheim turned her attention back to Shizuka once more. [color=gold]"Now then, unlock your hidden potential, you say. That should be rather—"[/color] The Alchemist made a sudden halt in her speech, smiling sadistically, [color=gold]"easy for someone like me!"[/color] Without a warning, Shizuka would feel a great and sharp pain rock her body to the core, despite her essence not being a physical one. If either of the Maid siblings cared to check the source, they would see that Hoheheim had, unceremoniously, buried her right hand inside Shizuka's stomach, transfixing the spirit as if her armor wasn't even there. Even if she lacked a body, Shizuka would be able to feel Hohenheim's appendage churning her 'innards', until she finally grasped... something. [color=gold]"Hah! That should be it. Who is it who thought that I couldn't perform Transmutation of the Soul should think again. The Alchemist of Genesis is not—"[/color] Hohenheim pulled her arm, which was now buried to the elbow inside Shizuka, in the same jerkish way she inserted it. This time she was holding a ball of light containing what looked like twirled strands of magical scripts, which suspiciously resembled the imagery of the Three of Life with a few Sephiroth shining and others not, inside of it. [color=gold]"Is not someone to be trifled with, hehehehe. Hahahaha!"[/color] [color=gold]"This should free your sister of many of her inhibitions,"[/color] Hohenheim said once she got back to her seat, pawing the orb of light without much interest, before throwing it off like yesterday's newspaper. [color=gold]"If that is all you wanted from me, you can get going now. If your sister can endure this, she'll find the strength she asked for. As for you,"[/color] The Alchemist finally addressed directly, [color=gold]"you are permitted to leave. I expect to count with your services again if the chance presents itself. That was not—"[/color] Hohenheim snapped the last cookie in half with her perfect teeth, [color=gold]"a half bad time, hahahaha!"[/color] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/M5I1dzL.png[/img][/center] The battle to please the Alchemist of Genesis had ended. Yet, life on the Nexus continued. As if expected, many forces once dormant or hardly known were put into motion once again and change was wrought once more, on this world of chaos. One such forces was about to make herself known among the hordes of Hell, once more, while the other was just about to arrive in Celestia for the first time in a very long while. [center][h3][b][color=crimson][u]Victoire Bordeaux, the Bloody Countess[/u][/color][/b][/h3][/center] A flight of dark bats flocking to Hell's Throneroom would be the herald of Victoire's resurgence withing the Daemonic Realm. Perhaps it was only right that Victoire decided to bring herself out of isolation at a time of great turmoil and bloodshed for the Devils. One couldn't expect anything less of the selfish Blood Countess, after all. [color=crimson]"I, Victoire Bordeaux, come to offer my sincerest praises to the new ruler of Hell,"[/color] The smallish vampire said as she curtsied formally. The chaos around herself, including Sliske's predicament and stand off against Ira, or Henry's lack of initiative— as ever— nothing fazed Victoire who kept on her courteous bow and eyes leveled with the stone floor. If this was an act, at least it was a convincing one, much less pretentious than her [i]'faillen'[/i] demonic peers. [center][h3][b][color=2c75ff][u]Ciel, the Stargazer[/u][/color][/b][/h3][/center] [center][hider=BGM][youtube]https://youtu.be/WTQDUT2etGs[/youtube][/hider][/center] On the other hand, the inhabitants of Celestia would have a very rare sight greeting their eyes, [url=http://i.imgur.com/gaYkaS8.jpg][b]Ciel, the Stargazer[/b][/url], who usually passes more time in her observatory tower, close to the borders of the Nexus, came for a visit. The magus girl was always a liked figure in the Halls of the Heavens, be it for her gentle demeanor, or her posh looks, Ciel had quite a following between the younger masses of the Holy Realm. One could almost say that she was like an idol whose star was always shining. That was especially true given that Ciel's knowledge of the skies was unparalleled, and her magic allowed the argent-haired maiden to control every aspect of Celestial Magic, including the ability to summon many other being who inhabit the Heavens and are classified as Celestial Spirits. It's needless to say who are her biggest fans. Either way, at this very moment, Ciel would be found drinking some tea, brewed from the Star Lilies that dot the fields around her home, while lazily flipping the pages of an ancient star catalog, left behind by her missing Master. The Star Magus was sitting on a wicker garden chair, besides a glass table, on a balcony, slightly above the place where Tartys performed her songs. [color=2c75ff]"Well, it looks like my 'assistance' on the Alchemist's test was really appreciated. It feels really nice to have the stars shine for you, right?"[/color] Ciel said to herself before giving out a light chuckle and continuing to flip the pages of her book. 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