Inedible

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

The dance floor is slowly filling up, bodies drawn up from tables by the lilting music. The cadets from the Officer’s Academy make up the majority of the dancers from their sheer numbers, the Ars Magi making up a much smaller (but much more popular) percentage. It’s not hard for any of the girls from Nova Lux to find a dance partner, or at the very least a few eager hangers-on. Most of the cadets are at least making an attempt at moving to the music, though the degree of proficiency seems to vary widely between couples.
The bored looking group of officers that Dana and Penny approach are in the midst of discussing one of their upcoming exercises, the three young men speaking languidly between each other.

“We’re going to be directing them?” Asks one, a taller cadet with blond hair.

“One team for each of theirs, I think.” Replies the second,

“They aren’t going to use real Voids, are they?” The first asks.

“Machines, I think.” Chimes in the third.

Their conversation pauses at the approach of the two Ars Magi, and after a moment of awkward floundering introductions are made around the table. It’s clear none of the cadets know exactly how to treat a real live Ars Magi, but after a few minutes at least two work up the nerve to ask their visitors to dance.

Penny’s partner, Dima, is the taller of the group, the wiry and sharp-faced cadet that they’d first overheard. Unfortunately, he knows how to waltz exactly as well as Penny does. Which leads to about a minute of awkward bumping, stepping on feet, generally being a hazard until he decides to stick to just swaying in place. Thankfully, the pair can blend in adequately amidst the other moving parties, though the boy does apologize profusely:

“I’ve never met an Ars Magi before.” He confesses, “I mean, I’ve watched all the shows, but never like face-to-face.” A moment more of swaying and he asks: “Is it like that? Like in the shows? What kind of powers do you have? Is it okay if I ask that?”

Dana is paired with a dark-haired, muscular cadet that looks like he could easily bench-press at least two of her. Introduced as Noah (though the other two Cadets refer to him only as Protein), he, unlike Penny’s partner, does seem at least to have a reasonable idea of how to move around the dance floor and guide his smaller partner on how to do the same. At least enough to that the pair can blend in with the rest of the crowd without major issue.

“My parents made me learn how to dance a little,” The boy explains as they make orderly steps across the marble tiles, “But it’s been a while.” A few more swivels and he continues: “You said you’re from Norba, right? Me too! It’s hard to believe we’re halfway around the world now, right? Do you miss home? You probably didn’t even have a choice about leaving or not.”

After several lilting the minutes the waltz slows and, eventually, draws to a close. The floor does not vacate however and soon the music returns with a quicker and less regimented tune, a welcome relief to those not trained in the classical styles.

When the pair of Nicole and Cordelia eventually glide to their stop the latter feels a light touch against her shoulder. The intruding fingers belong to a cadet from the Officer’s Academy; a tall almond-eyed girl with long dark hair, one part of a duo that’s just finished their own graceful waltz.

“Can I cut in?” She asks, adding, “I’ll trade you.” She offers a hand out, for either of the two Ars Magi to take. Her partner available for trade is another one from the Officer’s Academy, a boy with dusky skin, smoldering dark eyes, and the long, striking line of a scar across one cheek.

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

---

The week continues on pleasantly, if uneventfully. The girls from the Laurus are able to have their night on the town without interruption, followed by several more days schoolwork, academy exercises, and their own private past times.

As the days tick past and the Ball grows nearer a muted sense of excitement begins to take hold amidst the students. For most this will be the first time attending a formal event, not to mention getting to rub shoulders with important dignitaries and members of the Duodecim. There will even be several Ars Magi in attendance, both from Palmyra’s own defense force and visitors from foreign cities.
Uniforms are cleaned and pressed in anticipation, instructions from the faculty are handed out, and then, soon enough, it’s time.

---

𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚊 𝙻𝚞𝚡 𝙰𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚢
Grand Hall
𝙼𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝟺𝚝𝚑， 𝟷𝟷𝟽 𝙰𝚅
𝟾:𝟶𝟶 𝙿𝙼
Dana Noel, Penny Grenoble, Nicole Cognoscenti, Diana Khay Vanna, Cordelia Whittaker

---

| Music: Noble Mind |

The central hall of Nova Lux is a sprawling rectangular chamber, its vaulted ceilings and enormous windows adding to an already impressive sense of scale. From its walls and ceiling hang blue and gold flags bearing the academies emblems, these banners now interspersed with others marked by Imperium and Duodecium iconography. Enormous golden light fixtures shine down on the marbled floors below, illuminating the crowd of cadets, faculty, and honored visitors that have gathered this evening.

To the disappointment of those expecting gowns and high fashion, the ball is a military affair, and the students of Nova Lux are dressed accordingly. Cadets mingle in their dress uniforms, familiar faces dressed in crisp blues and golds.

The new faces are from the Officers Academy, the gleaming structure on the opposite side of Nova Lux’s lush gardens. Young men and women dressed in their own uniforms, similar but slightly different than those of the assembled Ars Magi. In contract to the cadets from Nova Lux, most of the officers are probably used to such affairs; many come from noble or important families, having gained entrance via wealth or status rather than largely non-existent magical ability.

The rest of the guests, excluding faculty, are dressed in civilian formal wear. Most of the Duodecim have at least one family representative in attendance, even those from hailing from the far-away cities to the west. There are several high-up members of the Imperium as well, along with their stern-faced Ars Magi escorts.

The whole thing exudes an air of pomp and ceremony, from the bombastic opening speeches to the twenty minutes or so devoted to running down the line of important people, shaking hands, and making clipped greetings. It’s almost an hour in before anyone is allowed to leave the long rows of tables that have been assembled on one side of the room, each assigned to a different team of cadets.
Penny, Dana, Nicole, and Vanna are all seated at the same table, as expected. Astrelle, however, is absent. Instead she’s been replaced by a new girl, a face that the group many have seen around the academy before. There’s not much time for introductions until the speeches begin to wind down and dinner, a light fair accompanied by a mild wine, is served.

Afterward the guests are finally released from their seats and allowed to begin mingling. The hall begins to fill with bodies and conversation, the noise soon joined by the sound of a stately waltz played from a grand piano near the front of the hall.

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

Discussion goes on for the rest of the hour and pizza is agreed upon eventually. Plans are made, and eventually the chimes ring out to signal the end of free time. It’s back to the dorm rooms after, one light after another flickering out as the cadets find sleep after a long and difficult day.

The next several weeks pass more uneventfully than the past few days. It may almost be disappointing, going from facing down multiple Voids sitting in classrooms and staring down reams of homework and stacks of academic material. There are still both physical and magical drills that take place over the intervening time, but both are more strictly regimented and more limited in scope than the cadet’s earlier trial by fire.

For the more restless of Nova Lux’s students there is at least some good news in the announcement that comes the day after their initiation: The students are now allowed to explore the city without supervision. There’s a curfew in place for cadets, but otherwise the city of Palmyra is theirs to explore during their evenings and weekends.

The city itself is, as Nicole has noted, not Hasta. Palmyra’s ancestry is Russian, built on the bones of an old port city, but its future is an eclectic mix of European and Asian influences. Several generations of immigrants and refugees have influenced the culture and feel of the sanctum city, shown in the mix of languages that paint billboards and street signage. In some places old stone buildings give way to steel skyscrapers and packed housing structures reminiscent of old Eastern living, the city forced to expand upward rather than out.

It’s a military city, the most prominent features being Nova Lux, the Officer’s Academy, Palmyra’s Military Zone, and all the structures required to support of those pivotal institutions. Yet there’s still some charm to be found amidst its streets, some bastions of society and entertainment. Movie theaters, karaoke rooms, arcades, restaurants, shopping districts and parks, while they might not be grand affairs or cultural landmarks there’s something for everyone.

During these weeks, several pieces of news also circulate through the academy and amongst the student body. The chief item of interest is the announcement of the academies’ Inaugural Ball, a joint event held for both the newly minted Ars Magi and recently enrolled students from Nova Lux’s sister school, the Palmyra Officers Academy. Officially it’s billed as a chance to build relationships between the Ars Magi cadets and the peers they’ll be working with over the coming years, though the more cynical speculate it’s more likely an opportunity for the Imperium to show off their new crop of weapons to the Duodecim’s various dignitaries.

Until then though the five girls from the Laurus have time to themselves and the city to explore--at least when they aren’t in class.

Secundi Lux

The trip back to the second staging area is a short, several minutes walk before the group reaches one of the still intact towers. Noel supports Chie as they move, and a pair of medics begin fussing over the girl’s wounds once she’s brought into the tower. There are several other girls there, members of Aoife and Noel’s group that remained behind while the former two were sent to provide support.

Once Chie is deemed in as fair condition as she’s going to get and the remaining operators confirm there are no further abnormalities in the test zone the operation is declared a success and the cadets are packed into an APC to begin their trip back to Nova Lux.
There’s a small debriefing following the operation upon return to the academy, both for each girls’ individual test and the attack afterward. It consists mostly of checking to make sure their wounds aren’t too grievous, along with a short medical examination and psychological evaluation. More of what they’ve come to expect so far, though the process is at least less invasive than their previous examinations.

Chie receives the most attention, taken to the academy’s medical center to get stitched and bandaged up. She has some company there, several other girls who’ve taken more severe injuries during their exercises. None are fatal, but there are a decent number that’ll take some time to recover from. Chie is, thankfully, not the worst of the bunch.

No matter their physical condition, every girl receives the same news:

“Congratulations cadet. Today you are an Ars Magi.”

𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚊 𝙻𝚞𝚡 𝙰𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚢
𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷𝟻𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟷𝟽 𝙰𝚅
6:𝟹𝟶 𝙿𝙼

---

That evening the cafeteria is buzzing with energy, a dozen newly minted Ars Magi swapping stories of their transformations and the events of the day. By now a few of those faces are familiar, seen around the common area and dorms over the past few days. Some of the cadets also bear new wounds, all carefully bandaged up. There’s no particularly grievous injuries on display, but anyone seriously hurt is still in the infirmary.

The main topic of discussion this evening seems to surrounds the appearance of the higher-powered Voids in the testing ground. Apparently there was more than one incident over the course of the day:

“That’s not supposed to happen, is it?” Asks one of the cadets.

“We didn’t see anything like that.” Another replies.

“Do you think they let the big ones in on purpose?” A third asks.

The sound of chatter echoes through the cafeteria, stories and gossip frantically passed before it comes time to return to the dorms.

Secundi Lux

Motes of ice are caught up in a sudden gust of wind that rustles through the abandoned district, blowing the remains of the Void and other small debris across the empty street.

The blonde-haired girl that arrived with Aoife turns her attention to the four that had begun the fight, flashing a toothy smile before she introduces herself: “Noel Nilsson, here to save the day. Glad we could help you out, right?” She reaches a hand out to clasp Aoife’s shoulder briefly, giving it a hearty shake before her gaze turns to the other girls once again.

“Hey, you don’t look so good.” The lightning Ars Magi turns to Chie, long strides bringing her toward the injured girl. “You need help getting back? I can give you a hand.”

Earpieces buzz as operators begin to coordinate again, instructing the candidates to return with Aoife and Noel to their tower. There’s a few injured operators who require assistance to do so, but soon the trek begins to the rendezvous point. There’s time to talk along the way, and the going is slow enough that it isn’t strenuous on the wounded.

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

“I hear the other group finished their exercise before they got attacked.” Priya responds to Nicole, shifting from her seat at a nearby table to scoot closer to the Laurus group. The girl has a few small cuts across one of her chestnut colored cheeks, but she seems in good spirits. He chair makes a few rumblings of protest as she slides to settle next to Nicole’s couch.

“Only two of us finished before we got attacked, though.” Priya continues, “But Amanda rushed in, even though she hadn’t done her trial yet. It was so cool-—she transformed right there!”

The blonde-haired girl, seated at the table that Priya left, glances up briefly at the mention of her name. She returns shortly after to a magazine in her hands, scanning the pages and showing a general disinterest in the ongoing conversation.

It doesn’t stop her friend from going on: “And I got a sword! Just like I wanted, remember I was telling you. It’s, like, one of those long, thin swords--“ The girl continues to describer her weapon in painstaking detail, pausing only when interrupted by a distressed puff of air from Cara, who also has decided to scoot nearby to join in on the conversation.

“You guys are lucky.” She complains, “I wish we saw one of those big Voids. The small guys didn’t even put up a fight.”

As the conversation goes on Penny is able to pull up information on Void classifications and the NOI’s official ranking chart:

𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚂 – 𝙴𝚡𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝． 𝙾𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚅𝚘𝚒𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝚂 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗．
𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝙰 – 𝙿𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚖 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢． 𝙾𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚊 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚏𝚞𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚅𝚘𝚒𝚍𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝙰 𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜． 𝚁𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝚗𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝚛𝚜 𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚒．
𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝙱 – 𝙿𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚖𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚖 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢． 𝚁𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝚛𝚜 𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚒．
𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝙲 – 𝙿𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚖 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢． 𝚁𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝚛𝚜 𝙼𝚊𝚐𝚒．
𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚜 𝙳 – 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕， 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝚗𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚏 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍．

“So,” Says Cara, “I hear they’re finally going to let us out in the city, now that we’re full-fledged Ars Magi and everything. I didn’t get to see much of it on the way in, but I’m sure they’ve at least got a burger place or something out there. We should go, when we can. What do you say?”

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

There’s a small debriefing following the operation upon return to the academy, both for each girls’ individual test and the attack afterward. It consists mostly of checking to make sure their wounds aren’t too grievous, along with a short medical examination and psychological evaluation. More of what they’ve come to expect so far, though the process is at least less invasive than their previous examinations.

The interview concludes the same way for each student; A handshake from each of the senior faculty, and these words:
“Congratulations cadet. Today you are an Ars Magi.”

𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚊 𝙻𝚞𝚡 𝙰𝚌𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚢
𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷𝟻𝚝𝚑, 𝟷𝟷𝟽 𝙰𝚅
𝟽:𝟹𝟶 𝙿𝙼
Dana Noel, Penny Grenoble, Nicole Cognoscenti, Diana Khay Vanna, Astrelle Lennox

---

After dinner the common room is buzzing with energy, a dozen newly minted Ars Magi swapping stories of their transformations and the events of the day. By now a few of those faces are familiar; Priya, Amanda, Cara, a handful of others. Some of the girls bear new wounds, all carefully bandaged up. There’s no grievous injuries on display, but anyone seriously hurt is still in the infirmary.
The main topic of discussion this evening seems to surrounds the appearance of the higher-powered Voids in the testing ground. Apparently there was more than one incident over the course of the day:

“It was, like, this huge thing, with a dozen arms.” Priya is describing excitedly at one of the tables scattered around the room, going into details about her groups encounter.

“That’s not supposed to happen, is it?” Asks one of the cadets.

“We didn’t see anything like that.” Another replies.

“Do you think they let the big ones in on purpose?” A third asks.

The sound of chatter echoes down the hallways of the dorms, stories and gossip frantically passed before lights-out comes in a couple hours.

Secundi Lux

Three detonations resound across the empty streets, one after another. The first two spheres pop when they’re shorn through by Chie’s chakrams, two small explosions that leave behind wispy trails of black smoke. Crystal handles the third, the last blast ringing out as her weapon collides with the projectile, leaving her injured for her trouble.

The Void is in far worse shape though. When Aoife demands that it kneel the monster has little choice in the mater, the jet of water channeled by the newly arrived Ars Magi striking its leg and sheering through its dark flesh with the sheer force of the current. The creature pitches forward, brought low from the powerful blow.

Its arm rises again, slowly, and slower still as Chie’s magic begins to take effect. The weight of gravity bears down on the Void, gripping and holding it tight as the seconds tick by. Long enough for Crystal to engage it, her sword thrusting deep into the spindly monster’s core. Frost quickly begins to form and blanket the tall monster’s dark form, and soon it’s entombed in a shell of ice, frozen from the core outward.

And when Selma arrives it shatters, fracturing into frozen chunks when the green-haired girl collides with it.

“Gottem!” The blonde girl, Noel, announces with a pump of her armored fist.

This time it doesn’t reform. There’s a few seconds of pregnant silence before an operator’s voice crackles to life in Aoife’s ear: “Spike is gone. Nox levels are dropping—diffusers are back online. You’re clear.” The message comes through to the rest of the girls and their original operators soon after, once radio channels are switched over.

Nova Lux: A Magical Girl Game

The Void, descending to meet Nicole, is denied its prey one last time. This time by Penny’s hammer, the girl’s high-speed impact intercepting the monster before it can continue its wicked pursuit. The sound of the impact carries across the street, echoing between empty buildings as it resounds through the abandoned district. The force of the blow sends the Void skyrocketing upward, throwing it into a vicious spiral.

It doesn’t have time to right itself before the blast from Dana’s gladius hits it. The Void is engulfed in that blinding light, it’s ink-black skin flaking away in chunks under the searing glow of the attack. For a moment all that can be seen is a skeletal outline, a glowing purple core at its center that buckles and cracks as the light washes over it.

The slicing gale of Nicole’s weapon severs what remains, casting the Void to the winds. It fades into wisps of darkness, vanishing in the sunlight that streams down over the empty street.

“Nox levels dropping.” If there was any further doubt that the Void might be a threat, the operator’s voice crackles in each Ars Magi’s ear. “Levels are returning to normal. Return to tower.”

Secundi Lux

The chunk of concrete that Selma launches skyward intercepts the ball of darkness racing toward the tower with a spectacular detonation. The concussive force released when the two meet is visible in the air, a distorted plume of darkness as the stone is erased from existence. The tower, for the moment, is safe.

It affords Crystal time to start hauling wounded soldiers down to the bottom of the structure, the operators likewise making a hasty exit after giving the order to evacuate. The husk of the observation room is soon cleared out, flickering monitors and beeping displays left behind as the crew moves to the street below.

And while she does Rivka takes up position, two sharps cracks of her rifle echoing out in the wake of the earlier detonation. The first red streak connects with the tall Void’s center mass, and the second with the arm half-raised to defend itself. The force of those two impacts are enough to sheer the spindly creature near in half; it’s right arm and shoulder are torn from its body in a splatter of black mist, vanishing abruptly into thin air.

The second volley, Selma’s next round of debris, is less destructive. Still, the makeshift projectiles find their mark with enough force to send the Void flying. It tumbles backward, vanishing over the side of the building.

It’s not immediately clear if the monster is gone, but the answer comes soon enough. It’s only a minute later that the Void appears on the street below, lurching into view of the Crystal, Chie, and the officers gathered at the base of the tower. The empty space where it used to have an arm has already regrown a vestigial sort of appendage, a long and whip-like span of darkness that’s swiftly growing back into the long limb it possessed before.

The more intact of the two appendages is raised toward the group of soldiers and Ars Magi across the street, and this time it conjures more than one of those explosive spheres. They come in a volley of three, each launched at alarming speed across the intervening space and toward the small cluster of individuals in front of the tower.

The Void’s hand rises again to begin conjuring more in their wake, another two spheres half-formed in front of it before something--someone--stops it.

The first girl emerges like a blonde bolt of lighting, leaping into sight from an alleyway near the Void. Electricity crackles around her metal-clad fingers, discharging in a brilliant flash of light when her fist slams into the explosive-hurling foe. The force of the blow is enough to take the Void off its feet, it’s tall frame tumbling across the street.

It comes to a stop a few feet away before it begins to rise once again, pushing itself to its feet.

“Aoife!” Calls the lightning Ars Magi, “Go!”