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It was a quiet night.

Overhead, the stars twinkled amidst the vast blackness that separated them all, while closer, yet still impossibly far away, the moon bloomed in all its imitated splendor. Up on the water tower of a roof, the Knight of Rose sat, a variety of tools and bottles beside her as she polished her sword. Part of her was relieved that there were no monster attacks on this particular night, but another part cautioned that it simply meant she wasn’t searching hard enough. Penrose was filled with them, after all: monsters, dark magical girls, monster girls, Horrors, and a whole assortment of others. If they weren’t making noise now, it simply meant they were preparing in the shadows.

Then again, such grim thoughts were unbecoming of her.

Gently, she ran a whetstone down the length of her Sword, the Lesser Force rasping in delight against her solar plexus. It had been a long time since she’d given it this sort of treatment, and even though it was superfluous kindness for a Patron that practically forced itself upon her...well, knowing what she knew now, it was for the better. The world would have ended otherwise. Lives would have been lost otherwise. If Fate deigned to make her the Hunter for this Hound, then she may as well try to make this partnership a happy one. Raising her Silverlight to the moon, Amaryllis smiled at her handiwork, before running an oiled cloth down the flat next, gently massaging the living metal before a scratch against the underside of her right thumbnail caused her to stop.

It was a quiet night. But it looked like she wasn’t alone.

Behind her, a hole in reality opened. A hole allowing passage directly onto the water tower Amaryllis currently sat on, on the other side of which appeared to be indoors, a dark hallway somewhere in what may have been an alternative world. That wasn’t as notable as the figure that came walking out of it. It was a tall, pale girl, an eyepatch over her right eye, a long dark dress over her body, a white stuffed bunny held between her arms, looking down at Amaryllis.

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[color=1462ba]‘I am Mariette Pedersen. Amaryllis Evenings. I wish to speak with you,’[/color] Mariette said, looking with an intense look towards Amaryllis where she sat. Behind the visitor the portal closed, leaving Mariette with a backdrop of the night sky and the stars blinking away in the faraway distance. 

Amaryllis didn’t turn. Instead, she moved to pack up her tools instead, carefully storing them in the kit, before placing it into the cavernous depths of her Backpack. Her Sword was warning her now, looping twice, thrice in shallow cuts around her neck, but the Knight of Rose didn’t need its psychic admonition; the thick, twisted scent of a Horror lingered enough that she was surprised the area around her hadn’t been corrupted and maligned yet.

[color=778899]“Speak. I’m listening.”[/color]

Her hand laid upon the ivy handle of her sword, but had yet to grasp it. Overhead, rusted petals bloomed, casting shadows under the moonlight.

Mariette nodded slightly, noting the preparation of possible conflict in Amaryllis. Though, that was not the kind of meeting Mariette was here for.

[color=1462ba]‘You have recently been given the chance to make a wish with the Djinn Sisters, have you not?’[/color] Mariette asked, looking out towards the city. [color=1462ba]‘And you chose to selflessly use it to protect the people of Penrose from magical interference. A noble cause, I would suppose. There is no end to the amount of spirits that do not actually seek the death and destruction of humans, regardless of what the news in this city would hint at. Humans are of far less use when they’re dead, after all. Indeed, if it were all so easy…’[/color] 

[color=1462ba]‘Amaryllis. Is the story of the Monkey’s Paw familiar to you?’[/color] Mariette asked, looking down at her again.

[color=778899]“All wishes have a cost,”[/color] Amaryllis said, before a smile creased over her features. [color=778899]“Are you here to make me pay?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘No. I’m here to make you aware of the consequences of your wish,’[/color] Mariette said, looking her over. [color=1462ba]‘Or do you perhaps already know? Was it exactly what you wanted?’[/color] Mariette asked, looking the girl over.

[color=778899]“It prevents a magical massacre from occurring in broad daylight while the perpetrator is miles away from the incident.”[/color] The knight gazed far out into the rows of streetlights, the black gaps inbetween. [color=778899]“But it’s not what I wanted. It’s simply something [i]suitable[/i] for a wish.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Hmpf. So it does. But it wasn’t what you truly wanted? Then that makes things ever so tragic,’[/color] Mariette said, a mild tone of condolement in her voice. [color=1462ba]‘A powerful spell was cast as a result of your wish. Since that evening, the common folk of Penrose have been safer than ever before, despite the murderers about. However, that spell…’[/color] Mariette paused a bit, looking at the back of the knight’s head for how she’d react. [color=1462ba]‘… has been channelled using you as its conduit. Meaning, should your current self die or be removed from Penrose, the spell will fail.’[/color]

There was a long pause.

Then, Amaryllis said, with a tone that couldn’t fully obscure her astonishment, [color=778899]“Is that all?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Hm. If you’d call it that,’[/color] Mariette stated. [color=1462ba]‘The fact of the matter is that the consequences have yet to come. I figured it out. I had means at my hands a bit beyond the regular. However, given time, others will figure it out as well. What will happen then, well…’[/color] Mariette said, still looking at Amaryllis. [color=1462ba]‘You should be able to figure out what’ll happen. Perhaps, however, that suits you just fine? The prey converging on the hunter…’[/color] Mariette suggested, watching for her reactions.

[color=778899]“I expected much worse, considering your lead up,”[/color] Amaryllis replied, turning to face Mariette for the first time, [color=778899]“Along the lines of ‘humans in Penrose are unable to make babies anymore due to pregnancy actually being a magical gift from a Deity’ or other such hogwash. For the cost to only be for me to be chained to this place…”[/color]

The Knight of Rose stood up, flourishing her sword against the light of the heavens.

[color=778899]“...well, I certainly wouldn’t mind staying here until this unnatural convergence of the magical and malignant cease. Though I must ask, Sage of the Shadowed Gate, what about ventures to Penrose’s Overcity? And if I were to be forcibly removed from the boundaries of Penrose, will the spell rebuild itself once I return?”[/color]

Mariette inspected Amaryllis as she stood, seeing her relief. [color=1462ba]‘… The spell wouldn’t be so weak that it’d fall instantly. Temporary absences that you return from will probably be fine. The details of the spell in question are vague to me as well, but there is no doubt it’s linked to you.’[/color] That is to say, the Djinn Sisters only told Mariette about the link to Amaryllis, she didn’t actually hear about the details Amaryllis was asking for. [color=1462ba]‘I’d expect it to rebuild itself should you reappear, albeit I can offer no guarantee.’[/color]

[color=778899]“Then that’s good enough for me,”[/color] Amaryllis replied, a trace of reckless valor streaking across her eyes. [color=778899]“All I’ll need to do is to know not defeat, nor be converted from valiant knight to distressed maiden. Now then, can I inquire as to why you so willingly divulged such information? Seeing how it’d be to your advantage otherwise.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘…’[/color] Mariette was a bit quiet as she was asked those questions, maintaining a neutral expression. [color=1462ba]‘You believe you will triumph, then?’[/color] She completely ignored the questions. [color=1462ba]‘Will you amass your allies in preparation for what may come for you, or do you believe you yourself will be enough to hold them back? … Will you fight to the death the day someone stronger than you is perturbed by your magic barrier?’[/color] So she asked.

Amaryllis flicked a strand of hair out of her eyes, her smile opening to reveal her canines. [color=778899]“You’re taking quite the detour here, Mariette, if you want to be friends with me.”[/color]

Mariette squeezed her stuffed bunny a little harder. [color=1462ba]‘Hmpf. I have an image I’d like to maintain. In any case. It would seem that knowledge of your predicament has not caused you to despair at the unfairness of the world and seek out the Djinn Sisters to demand a refund, instead you seem even more determined to face what the world has in store for you. Very well. Then yes, I would ask that we could keep a measure of contact that could prove mutually beneficial. You are going to need help, after all,’[/color] Mariette declared.

[color=778899]“Well aren’t you a cute one,”[/color] Amaryllis remarked, chuckling lightly. Then, casually yet suddenly, she leaned in, all traces of amusement gone. [color=778899]“But this is what I’d like to know. Why would a Horror need help from me?”[/color]

Mariette leaned back in the slightest, the proximity a bit unnerving when Amaryllis leaned in like that. Still, she maintained herself. [color=1462ba]‘… Because people get so riled up when they figure out you’re the champion of a Horror. It really restricts your movements. We can watch days upon end, but as soon as we get involved, someone’s going to want to stop us. It would be beneficial to have someone untied by this… stigma,’[/color] Mariette said. Still unnerved.

Amaryllis remained there for a moment longer, before stepping back once more, letting out a sigh. [color=778899]“You know there’s good reason for this, right? A Horror’s just a Horror, after all.”[/color] Another pause, and the Knight of Rose raised a finger. [color=778899]“But everyone’s entitled to one chance. Try not to reveal yourselves as the ultimate world-ending evil somewhere in the near future, ok?”[/color]

On account of Mariette being way in range of a fast sword-swipe, this was a mildly intimidating situation, just [i]in case[/i] it went south. As such, it was a bit of a relief when Amaryllis said the part of having one chance. Mariette did have counter-measures in place, just in case, of course, but still. [color=1462ba]‘That would be undesirable for the both of us. Trust me on that. … Thank you,’[/color] Mariette said, squeezing her bunny a bit more while slipping in some honest gratitude in her tone.

[color=778899]“Well then, let’s make it official.”[/color]

With a swing of her hand, Amaryllis stuck her sword into the ground and raised one hand, snapping it. Overhead, the rusted roses scattered, red petals tumbling like soft rain, dissolving upon landing the ground. One breath, and she spoke. [color=778899]“I am Amaryllis Evening, Knight of the Rose, Bearer of the Silverlight and Slayer of the World’s Evils. Though you may not be the guiding hand of my blade, and I may not be the guiding prayer of your magic, may we strive towards the same goal when our paths align, and may we offer each a single instance of leniency when our paths collide. Upon this night, let our vow be witnessed by the Forces around, the Gods above, and the Eldritch beyond. I pledge this upon my blade, upon my heart, and upon the wish bound to my soul.”[/color]

A hand outstretched, silvered anemones bloomed around.

[color=778899]“What say you, Mariette Pedersen?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘…’[/color] Wow. This was some performance. Mariette had looked around her with just the mildest more open eye for a bit as Amaryllis spoke, watching the scattering petals, before looking to the knight once again. Mariette was… just the slightest speechless. Still. She had to speak, didn’t she?

[color=1462ba]‘… I am Mariette Pedersen, called the Reflective Witch and… Sage of the Shadowed Gate?’[/color] That’s what Amaryllis had called her, wasn’t it? [color=1462ba]‘… Yes. All that which you said sounds agreeable. I pledge that vow upon bunny. He’s my closest and most beloved companion, after all.’[/color]

Amaryllis’s lips quirked up at that.

With that said, while holding bunny with her left hand Mariette reached to take Amaryllis hand with her right, assuming it being how to seal the vow. They shook once, firmly, and then the Knight of Rose let go.

[color=778899]“So...that all, or do you want to stay and chat about your Patron?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Mmm. Suppose I could stay and chat. Just for a bit.’[/color] Obviously, she wouldn’t say anything integral, but… just for a bit.

[color=778899]“Excellent.”[/color] Amaryllis inspected her sword once more, the mirrored blade reflecting Mariette’s visage for just a moment, before she hooked it to her waist, a chain of ivy keeping it in place. [color=778899]“I’m of the sword and you’re of portals and such, but how will this whole thing work out anyways? It’s ultimately fairly...normal for people with the same goals to work together, after all.”[/color]

Mariette sat down as Amaryllis spoke, intent on just relaxing a bit. She just so happened to find the place where Amaryllis had stuck her sword straight down into the water tower earlier, that part having a silver gleam to it, now. Mariette inspected it a bit curiously. [color=1462ba]‘I’ll contact you if I detect something worrisome for you. I’ll know before you do, probably. Possibly not if your sought it out on your own, but still. If you wish me something…’[/color] she considered. [color=1462ba]‘… I’ll shortly give you a magic rock with which to contact me. It may take a day or two to get ready.’[/color] She’d need to have Taihei make it, first. Mariette was reminded of how Justine had used a gem of some kind to communicate with her. Also how that gem had exploded trying to kill her when Mariette had outlived her usefulness… Well, at least Mariette wouldn’t be detonating anything. [color=1462ba]‘Is that fine?’[/color] Mariette asked.

[color=778899]“Oh, huh, you don’t have a smartphone or anything?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘I do, but you’ll find phones will rarely be able to connect to me.’[/color]

[color=778899]“Full time job, huh,”[/color] Amaryllis remarked. [color=778899]“You have my condolences.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘It’s alright. I’m used to it. I don’t even remember having a normal life,’[/color] Mariette told. [color=1462ba]‘… Do you have a normal life, still?’[/color]

A Horror was a Horror, after all. [color=778899]“Naturally. My Backpack only gives me nutritionally satisfying meals, so I’m getting a certificate in welding or something to make ends meet. Swords don’t have pockets, after all.”[/color]

She sat down. [color=778899]“Suppose you won’t miss something you don’t remember though. Ever wanted to try it?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Some day, perhaps. Some day. … There was actually a girl in town that asked to adopt me, so that’d be the opening for it, I suppose,’[/color] Mariette shared, for no real reason. 

[color=778899]“Huh, magical girls adopting other magical girls, who woulda thought,”[/color] Amaryllis remarked, wondering the legal loopholes involved with all that. Probably didn’t really matter when most of them could be considered illegal aliens after their transformations, but still. [color=778899]“Guess you’ll have to hope your work ends one day, hm?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘… No, won’t happen,’[/color] Mariette shook her head. [color=1462ba]‘My patron would not let things end like that. The eventual end to my contract with my patron I predict to be far more unpleasant than that, and also far along in the future.’[/color] That said, Mariette glanced to Amaryllis. [color=1462ba]‘Don’t get the wrong idea from that, however. I am loyal to him. I don’t wish for the end of the connection. It’s simply the matter of our discussion that having a normal life could have been nice, too,’[/color] Mariette said.

[color=778899]“Mmm,”[/color] Amaryllis hummed, expression nonchalant, [color=778899]“Certainly wouldn’t be impossible to have both, really. Figure my connection with my Patron’s most likely the same, except instead of plotting, they just want to feast. Trying’s free, after all.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Eh…’[/color] Mariette had an expression of “I don’t really believe that’d work” when looking over at Amaryllis now. [color=1462ba]‘… So, just in case, as someone who doesn’t even exist in the regular world right now, how would I even start, if so…?’[/color]

[color=778899]“None of us exist in the regular world, really. Not like we’re registered as American citizens or anything, right? But money goes a long way, and I know a couple of people make their living off forging documents,”[/color] the Knight replied, casually, [color=778899]“Honestly though? Figure out a way to convince your Patron that there’s benefits that outweigh the drawbacks of living in mundane society, and you’re golden.”[/color]

Wow, she sorta couldn’t believe she was actually advocating influence from a Horror. [color=778899]“If I can do it with a Force that literally has nothing else going for it outside of being a stabby-thing, you can probably go way further, Mariette.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘…’[/color] Mariette could see numerous problems with that arrangement. One of them being that Asengav could see straight through her, so trying to convince him without telling the truth just wouldn’t work. And, that would render her immobile, if she wanted to go back to a regular life regularly, where Asengav liked flexibility. Even worse, if she was suddenly needed somewhere else while engaging in this regular life, she’d have to stop doing what she was doing, potentially giving something up… she started wondering how much time being regular would take out of her schedule.

[color=1462ba]‘How do you spend your time as a regular girl, Amaryllis?’[/color] Mariette asked, looking at her curiously.

[color=778899]“Whenever I can, really,”[/color] Amaryllis shrugged. [color=778899]“When I don’t need to transform, I don’t, and that’s basically just regular life from there. Try to at least make it to most of my classes and do my assignments though. Hard to tell how busy your own life is, but being a magical girl at least helps me function on less sleep than I’d need otherwise.”[/color]

She squinted, doing some mental calculations. [color=778899]“Assuming eight hours of sleep a day, maintaining a regular life takes maybe 20 hours a week?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘…’[/color] Mariette was briefly silent, once again, considering. It was very different from how Mariette was living her life. [color=1462ba]‘Do you have regular friends, as well? Family, too, perhaps?’[/color] Mariette went to the next question about regular life.

[color=778899]“Family thinks I’m dead.”[/color] Nice and swift, like tearing off a bandaid. [color=778899]“Regular friends are more like acquaintances, really. Not too social by nature, y’know? Well, closest one that I might have had as a friend also went missing, so…”[/color]

She smiled. [color=778899]“Fate conspires to separate me from normal people, but I probably won’t fold yet.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Mmm,’[/color] Mariette made a noise, and squeezed her bunny a bit more. [color=1462ba]‘I think I’ve decided that having a normal life is going to be more of a hassle than it’s worth, as long as I’m under the command of my current patron. But, thank you for giving me the information to consider it.’[/color] Mariette said, turning her head away a bit. [color=1462ba]‘You go to school, it sounded like? Is that going to benefit you in the future, do you think?’[/color] Mariette asked.

Amaryllis laughed. [color=778899]“Swords don’t have pockets. I want to do something like welding or whatever so I have cash to spend on food, and well, gotta get an education for that, y’know?”[/color] A pause, and then she tossed the ball back to Mariette. [color=778899]“But hey, ‘nough about me. How’s your life panning out? Interdimensional Home or something?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘… Yeah. Everything I could possibly need for survival is already being provided for. My patron at least ensures that, if nothing else,’[/color] Mariette told, sitting in place and looking off into the night for now.

[color=778899]“Survival, huh,”[/color] Amaryllis echoed. [color=778899]“No entertainment?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘…’[/color] Mariette was quiet for a second, and then squeezed her stuffed bunny. [color=1462ba]‘He allows bunny,’[/color] was Mariette’s simple answer.

[color=778899]“Glad to see he’s not totally heartless,”[/color] was the knight’s dry response. [color=778899]“No free time then? Always on the clock?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘I have some time off, if I accomplish my duties quickly enough. I sometimes walk through the streets when I do. But, I can’t do much, because I don’t need money for survival,’[/color] Mariette replied.

Amaryllis winked. [color=778899]“And that’s why you need an education and a job. Still, no one to hang out with? Your Patron’s a one girl god?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘I have Eli. She’s my…’[/color] … What is she, actually? Mariette took a moment to wonder. [color=1462ba]‘… attendant? Subordinate? She’s assigned to follow my orders, and is loyal to me, at least. Eli had a sister, too, whom had the same role. Deni’s dead, though,’[/color] Mariette said. On account of not scaring Amaryllis, she wasn’t going to tell about the rest of the girls, but… yeah.

Hm, yeah, pretty awkward to try to be friends with someone who’s obligated to follow your orders. [color=778899]“Guess we all have our difficulties,”[/color] Amaryllis replied, standing up once more. [color=778899]“Think I’ll call it a night and hop off now, Mari, unless you have anything else you want to say?”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘… Yeah, there was something I did want to say,’[/color] Mariette said, thinking back on something. She had never tried to share that with anyone. She wanted to do it, just as an experiment. To see how she’d feel. Amaryllis would serve as test subject. Mariette smiled a little. [color=1462ba]‘That I don’t remember being normal was not true. However, I don’t believe I was ever truly normal. I never went to school. By what I know now… my father was a pretty bad man,’[/color] Mariette said, glancing at Amaryllis as she said. [color=1462ba]‘As far as I’m concerned, the horror saved me from him. In exchange, I serve him. What are your thoughts on that?’[/color]

Amaryllis raised her brows, very slightly, at the story Mariette just told. But her thoughts on the subject weren’t so complex as to give her pause, and at the end of the day… [color=778899]“Certainly wasn’t altruism,”[/color] she replied, [color=778899]“A normal social worker would have done the same, without expecting you to do what you do now. I think it’s fine if you’re championing your patron out of a sense of gratitude for what they’ve done, but I’m also certain that this is the ‘expected’ result for one’s actions.”[/color]

The Knight of Rose reached out for the full moon, as if to caress it, as if to take it.

[color=778899]“Mortal salvation for immortal servitude. Not uncommon, regardless of who the Patron is.”[/color]

[color=1462ba]‘Yeah. I figured as much,’[/color] Mariette simply said as her response to that while standing up as well. [color=1462ba]‘Thank you for your insight. I’ve enjoyed tonight’s conversation. I’ll contact you again, as promised,’[/color] she continued, turning towards Amaryllis as she spoke.

[color=778899]“Mhmm,”[/color] Amaryllis nodded. [color=778899]“Don’t pull a Soth, and I figure our relationship will be just fine.”[/color]

And, like that, the Knight stepped off the tower, vanishing into the night.

Mariette remained on the tower for a bit of time, trying to look in the direction Amaryllis disappeared into. … So, while it was true she had enjoyed the conversation, she also tried to consider if it could be used against her. Mariette was pretty sure most she had said was in the past and wouldn’t impact the future, but perhaps someone could figure her out…? Hm. Perhaps refrain from sharing unnecessary information in the future, Mariette concluded.

A portal opened, and Mariette exited, after which the portal closed. The water tower once again now stood vacant under the night sky.