NOVEL NEXT Interlude 1: Noblesse Oblige
In a nondescript room located in a hidden-off corner of the island, a lone girl stood frowning at her reflection. Her eyes, a deep shade of navy blue, bore an intensity that contrasted starkly with her otherwise demure demeanor.
Unlike many of the outspoken figures in the area who would be present at today's gathering, she had not used any hidden tunnels or passageways to enter the island. She, of course, was a student.
For most of the attendees secrecy was crucial. No cost was too high to ensure their identities and personal lives remained protected.
The building was a staging area and meeting site for Magical Girls around the region. For the sake of secrecy, attendees often had to go through half a dozen underground security checkpoints along the way.
However, the girl had simply walked through the front gate like any other student, before going through her assigned access point. There were only three checkpoints she needed to go through to access the hidden area beneath the school.
But despite her straightforward entry, she shared a similar concern with her peers — maintaining anonymity.
The words that had been said earlier still lingered in her mind, resonating with a harsh reality that she couldn't brush off.
The truth was, she didn't believe she belonged among the plethora of Magical Girls that would be attending this prestigious annual event.
This was why she stood in the dimly lit room, her gaze locked on the mirror.
Who was she really? A hero, a savior, a fraud?
The doubt gnawed at her, an ever-present shadow in the back of her mind.
She remembered the moment that changed her life. A day of reckoning, when the true cost of her family's success was laid bare before her eyes. She remembered the Chaos Event and the helpless cries of her people. It was then that something within her had snapped. A call to action she couldn't ignore.
Her smooth, perfectly manicured, caramel-colored hands reached for the small, glittering stars on a tarnished, hand-crafted metal bracelet.
It was a piece she had picked up from the ruins that day. That one fateful evening.
Like many in her social class, she was the product of an old magic family and gentry lineage, groomed for power and influence. The company towns that littered the landscape had always been filled with whispers and rumors of the atrocities committed against the workers.
It had always been a dark secret, a shadow that loomed over her life. Yet, she had managed to remain in the dark about it. Like her sister and many others, they were able to live a comfortable life, ignorant of the harsh reality their privilege was built upon. They lived a life of luxury, oblivious to the suffering of the workers who toiled day and night to ensure their opulent lifestyle.
That day, standing amidst the rubble and chaos, she had seen the truth. The true face of her family's empire. The blood on their hands.
The girl trembled, clutching the tarnished bracelet in her hand as memories of that day flooded back.
She was such a hypocrite.
Even now, she continues to mock their suffering, their struggles, wearing their pain as a fashionable accessory to maintain her image. Even now, as she stood in this waiting room with her perfectly styled hair and designer accessories, she couldn't escape the guilt that consumed her.
She, who had laughed at the misfortune of others, who had hidden her compassion under a veneer of cruelty, now claimed to be their savior and protector.
She was only thirteen years old at the time - naive, carefree, and oblivious to anything beyond her sheltered and privileged life.
Her family owned the multiple chartered towns in this part of the land, and they were originally meant to be safe havens and opportunity for Earth migrants. These fields were rich with granite quarries and fertile land that had attracted many refugees seeking a better life. While Chaos Events still occurred on Earth, they were managed much more efficiently on Terra.
At least, that was what she and many of the settlers had been made to believe.
The towns that littered Massachusetts Territory, each a hub for a different resource, had been thriving, providing a comfortable life for many. And her family, owners of all those towns, were the kings of their own little kingdom. Her family was at the top of that hierarchy, the undisputed rulers of this world they had created.
Her life was supposed to have been perfect, her destiny laid out for her in golden letters. A perfect daughter with a perfect family in what passed for a province.
But of course, her family was harboring a dark secret.
The negentropy barriers in the border towns were faulty. By design.
Chaos beasts were attracted to clusters of human civilization, which meant that the sharecropping families who lived on the outskirts of these towns bore the brunt of the attacks. Avoiding chaos events permanently was impossible, but a decent enough barrier could ensure that attacks on human settlements would be few and far between, with forewarning until someone could help take take the beasts out. The Chaos Distortion Scale had been invented by Frederick William Richter in 1892, who had developed the scale while studying Chaos Event phenomenon during a prolonged distortion in Heidelberg. It had become the standard scale for measuring Chaos Event severity since then, though it was originally called Richter's Scale.
Magnitudes 1 through 3 were considered the weakest, while 6 to 8 was considered catastrophic territory.
The highest rating on record for a singular distortion was a 9.7.
Magnitude 1 chaos events didn't typically produce hordes that couldn't be taken care of by conventional Earth-made firearms. Magnitude 2 distortions required the use of artillery or other heavy weapons, while magnitude 3s and 4s needed magic. Magnitudes 4.5 through 7 were emergencies requiring the intervention of specialized forces.
The negentropy barriers in the frontier towns were tampered with to enable more frequent Magnitude 1 through 2 chaos event, allowing more monsters to invade and terrorize the populace, but not enough to threaten her family's safety or business.
In other words, it was a system of control.
The family was effectively sacrificing the safety of their towns and people for the sake of their wealth. She'd been oblivious, of course, but that didn't lessen the weight of guilt that pressed down on her now.
Even the lowly Baron-class horde leaders that would attack these towns could be easily dispatched by a coordinated militia, and the cores that could be harvested from them and their minions were incredibly valuable.
She had always assumed the frequent attacks in their territories were just a consequence of living on Terra, an unfortunate reality they had to endure. She had been too caught up in her sheltered world of luxury and comfort, unaware of the suffering that her family's greed had inflicted on others.
Her family would often swoop in after the fighting and claim the valuable Chaos Cores from the beasts' remains for a fraction of their actual value, unbeknownst to the sharecroppers who were kept in the dark about their market values. It was a system that had worked for years, allowing the conglomerate to amass immense wealth and power. Sometimes, these towns would suffer casualties. Sometimes, a family or two would have to be compensated by being offered work at a higher rate. Sometimes, the town would need a new militia commander.
A small price to pay for the vast riches that were being accumulated. These low level incursions weren't catastrophic, and the people of their company towns didn't realize they were in constant, daily, and deadly peril. And her family would continue to profit from their misery.
But a Magnitude 3.2 Chaos Event led by a Viscount was a different story.
That night would be forever etched in her memory. The cries of the blameless ringing in her ears and the nauseating smell of ozone and burning flesh hanging heavily in the air.
She would eventually realize that her family had intentionally neglected to maintain and upkeep the negentropy generators responsible for powering the protective wards around the towns they — no, she owned, leaving it defenseless against frequent entropy cascades. It was a mistake she would take upon herself to fix, but it was already too late. The damage had been done and could never be undone.
While enjoying a holiday at the local observatory in Massachusetts Fields, she gazed out at the picturesque view of Bluestone Township and the sprawling fields and quarries beyond. Bluestone had been a beacon of hope and prosperity, its name reflecting the azure skies above. The town's pristine beauty had once rivaled the most breathtaking vistas in the province.
From her vantage point at the observatory's balcony, she could see the town center bustling with activity. She'd always chosen that spot when practicing her internal focus exercises. She'd stay there for hours at a time, drilling herself in the various forms and patterns of her family's magic.
But for some reason, on that very day, a constant sense of unease gnawed at her mind. The sky was unusually clear, and the sun shone brightly overhead, casting a vibrant light over the landscape.
Everything seemed normal at first. She continued to focus and train as usual. But the gnawing sense of dread in her stomach wouldn't subside.
It was then that she saw it—a flicker of chaos energy, a subtle distortion in the air.
And before she could react, disaster struck: a chaos event shook the peaceful scene. She'd rushed back into the inner sanctum, hiding behind the safety of the wards.
But this wasn't a simple, contained incursion that was easily dealt with by a trained militia.
No, this time it was different. Much different. And it would change her life forever. This wasn't the controlled, minor chaos events she'd come to know.
This was something far worse.
It had only taken a matter of minutes for the town to descend into utter pandemonium.
From within the observatory, she watched as the town she had come to grow fond of was torn apart. Buildings crumbled, people screamed, and a sense of helplessness settled over her.
The cacophony of screams from the countless cameras around town pierced her ears and filled her with a sense of hopelessness and fear. It was like the walls themselves were closing in around her. She could hear the faint sound of chaos beasts screeching in the background. A pair of children ran by, and then one of them was pounced on by a Beowulf. The child screamed, but their friend just kept running.
She had stood frozen in shock, watching through a live feed of a camera from one of the buildings near the town's entrance, but then the beast grabbed a hold of the boy's leg. Her eyes were glued to the screen, unable to look away even if she wanted to. She saw fear and desperation in the eyes of those she had once mocked. And something inside her snapped.
In desperation, she'd rushed inside and sought out the Chief of Security. She'd begged him to intervene, but he had shrugged her off with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Let them deal with it," he had said, his voice dripping with apathy. "It's not our concern."
Even the worst Magnitude 3 events would be led by a Viscount at worst, and the complex's defenses ensured that they would be protected.
But it was her concern. She couldn't ignore the cries for help, the desperate pleas for someone to save them.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
What had happened to Noblesse Oblige?
Noblesse Oblige, the principle that those with power and privilege have a responsibility to help those in need. It was a fundamental belief that had been ingrained into her since birth by her father. But she had let it fade into the background as her own desires for validation and status took center stage. One reinforced by her ruthless mother, who saw the family's reputation as more important than any individual's well-being.
Her family, with their wealth and influence, could have prevented this tragedy, could have protected those in their charge. But their indifference had sealed the fate of Bluestone and its people.
The girl, once so sheltered and ignorant of the suffering around her, now saw the truth in its rawest form.
She didn't know what had moved her to charge forth into the horde that night. Perhaps it was the weight of guilt, or maybe it was a flicker of genuine empathy buried deep within her. Whatever the reason, she couldn't ignore the call to action any longer.
Her ability to manipulate the family's dark energy came naturally to her, a power passed down through generations of her family. It was a power that she had never truly explored or understood until that fateful night in Bluestone, despite going through years of rote lessons and trainings that were expected of her.
She had ignored Chief Matthews and the security team's exasperation, and snuck through a hidden passageway that led down a road to the devastated streets of Bluestone. Chaos reigned around her - buildings crumbling, fires raging, and terrified citizens running for cover. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, and she felt a surge of anger build within her.
With a flick of her wrist, dark tendrils of energy erupted from her fingertips, swirling around her in a vortex of destructive force. She directed the energy towards a pack of Beowulves, disintegrating them with ease. She'd fought and she'd fought that night.
But it wasn't enough.
She fidgeted with the bracelet around her delicate, caramel-colored wrist and remembered how it had vibrated with energy that night, resonating with her newfound resolve.
She had picked it up from the ground amidst the rubble, from the fallen body of a ten-year old boy from Earth she'd seen cut down as she'd arrived. His innocent face haunted her every waking moment since that night, a constant reminder of the lives lost and the power she now possessed. She'd recognized the child. She remembered making fun of his ratty clothing.
His death was her fault, her family's fault. The family's wealth, which once brought her immense comfort, now felt tainted. The blood on the bracelet, a grim souvenir of the carnage that had unfolded around her, served as a reminder that she was complicit.
She had taken his bracelet without truly understanding why at the time. This bracelet, a simple piece of twisted metal with tiny stars etched into it, had been her anchor in what would become a very long night. She had always been cowardly, vain, and self-absorbed, but that night she had found a strength within herself that she never knew existed.
The waiting room seemed to fade away, replaced by the fiery chaos of that fateful night. The screams of the wounded and the desperate cries for help echoed in her ears. She could almost feel the weight of her powers surging through her veins as she unleashed wave after wave of energy upon the Chaos Beasts, and the shambling remains of the townspeople they'd infected with Chaos Energy.
All Magical Girls had an Origin tied to a moment of spiritual awakening and hers had been that night. Time had frozen for her when she'd picked it up, hands trembling, glowing with a faint starlight that pulsed in tune with her heartbeat. The soul resonance would not start until well into the night when she had been forced into a corner.
Despite the devastation that surrounded her, she had found a glimmer of hope.
She had fought off countless beasts that had attacked the town, driven by her desire to protect innocent lives and make up for her family's inaction.
And in the town hall, she'd found salvation. Well around three dozen of the townspeople were there, barricading themselves against a pack of monsters.
She had managed to fight her way inside, cutting down scores of beasts along the way.
But the Viscount had already arrived moments before her — a Nishi. A massive creature made out of shadows with scythe-like arms that seemed to stretch out endlessly. Its blue eyes glowed with malevolence, scanning the town for its next victim. The survivors cowered in fear, their hopes fading away like the dying embers of a fire.
She'd moved out of reflex, rushing between them in a burst of light, illuminating the darkness that surrounded them.
"Go!" she shouted at the survivors, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Head to the observatory! It's your only chance!"
The hesitated for a moment, mistrust lingering in their eyes. She knew she deserved their scorn and suspicion. After all, they knew her by reputation as the spoiled and pompous princess of the very family that had neglected to protect them. But she also knew that in that moment, there was no time for distrust or hesitation. Lives were at stake, and she had to make amends for the mistakes of her family.
"Please! Please trust me! I can help you!" she pleaded, her voice filled with genuine conviction. "I may not have been there for you before, but I swear on my life, and what remains of my family name that I will protect you now."
Her battle with the beast had become a blur, but she'd nearly lost her life. The smell of smoke and burning debris filled the air as she dodged the Viscount's relentless attacks. Each swing of its scythe-like arms sent shockwaves through the ground, tearing apart everything in its path. She danced around the beast, channeling her dark energy into powerful blasts that struck the Viscount with relentless force. Her family's magic allowed her to sever her enemies from ambient mana sources, but the Nishi had proved too strong, and the cost was too much. It seemed the beast was unaffected, and had simply shrugged off every attack. Its glowing, ethereal core remained intact despite her best efforts.
No matter how many times she struck the creature, it seemed to regenerate, its form shifting and morphing before her eyes. Its blue eyes glowed brighter, mocking her efforts as if to say that her power was nothing compared to its own.
The memory of fear still haunted her, the moment when she thought the scythe-like arms would tear through her defenses and infect her with Chaos Energy. It was a terrifying thought, to become a puppet for the enemy and harm her own people. But just as she felt overwhelmed by fear, a surge of energy from her bracelet gave her strength.
She'd awakened.
It was still poorly understood by Terrans what it was that gave Magical Girls the abilities they had.
It wasn't exactly mana, but some sort of unique mana-like energy tied to an Origin. Magical researchers called it Lumina or Spirit Power, and the way it was channeled through the soul gave magical girls the ability to tap into their full potential. Every Magical Girl was unique, each one having their own Soul Resonance, Signature Motifs, and access to different powers based on their Origin. They were also highly resistant to the chaos energy used by Aberrations like chaos beasts.
Some had the power to deny causality, some had the ability to conjure elemental forces beyond the greatest mages, while others could manipulate localized flows of time.
What she knew was that a miracle and boon she was unworthy of had been granted to her.
Her bracelet suddenly shimmered with an intense light that blinded her momentarily. The stars engraved into the metal came to life and moved in a wondrous dance, forming a protective shell around her.
In this moment of darkness and desperation, she felt a surge of power unlike any she had ever known. It was a force beyond herself, beyond even her family's inherited abilities.
She fought back against the Nishi, channeling the powers flowing through her to wrap its ethereal form in tendrils of entropy. She poured all her being into this battle, pushing herself to the limit. Somehow, her spells were more effective. More focused and intense. She didn't understand why. She didn't know what the power flowing from the bracelet was. And yet, with each blow, with each desperate struggle against the Nishi, she felt a sense of destiny wash over her.
Her movements were no longer just a dance of survival, but a symphony of power and purpose. She was more than just a girl fighting against overwhelming odds; everything seemed to move slower around her. As if she were a few seconds in the past, watching herself. Each spell, each movement, held the weight of countless lives, the weight of responsibility for her family's neglect and cruelty.
With a desperate cry, she unleashed a torrent of raw energy from her Memento, causing a blinding explosion that forced the beast back. She'd been unaware of it then, but she'd transformed into a Magical Girl. Her magical power had been amplified beyond her previous comprehension, and the blast she'd unleashed had completely leveled the town hall. The shockwaves from the blast shook the surrounding area, causing buildings to tremble and debris to scatter.
With one final ear-piercing screech, the Nishi disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only a faint echo in its wake.
She stood in the aftermath, catching her breath and feeling the satisfaction of victory.
It was late at night, and no one had witnessed her transformation into a shimmering star with streaks of silver hair in the moonlight. She'd stared down at the gloves that'd formed over her arms in shock and surprise, her heart pounding in her chest.
She was well-educated in the ways of the world, of course.
None would be capable of becoming a Magical Girl without accepting the burden — consciously or not, after all. The vows of a Magical Girl were etched into her very soul, binding her to a lifetime of protecting the innocent, fighting against the forces of darkness that threatened to consume the world. As poorly understood as the phenomenon was, that much had been deduced by the researchers and scientists on Terra.
And so, she stood alone in the ruined town hall, surrounded by destruction and death, a beacon of hope amidst despair. Her once-pristine dress now tattered and stained with the blood of those she had failed to protect. The survivors had all made it to safety, thanks to her.
In the chaos and horror of that night, she had become someone new, a symbol of strength and redemption.
The girl had vowed to shed her old self. The privileged, vapid, and ignorant heiress had been replaced by a warrior with a purpose. She no longer cared for the lavish parties, the designer dresses, or the attention of the high society. All that mattered now was her duty as a Magical Girl and the lives she could save.
Her heart had cried out that day, and accepted the burden of protecting the world from Chaos Beasts, from the very forces that threatened to destroy the world itself. It was a responsibility she had willingly taken upon herself, even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness and peace of mind.
Or rather, she'd thought and convinced herself of this at the time.
She wondered then, if she would be able to enact change. A good session of puppy-eyes and crying had convinced her father to tighten the generators that powered the barrier protecting the region. It was a small victory, but it meant that fewer Chaos Beasts would be able to breach the defenses and wreak havoc on innocent lives.
She would patrol lands owned by her family every week, in the times when she wouldn't be attended to by servants. She would patrol the streets every night, apprehending crooks and protecting innocent lives. She would hunt the more dangerous chaos beasts when they were spotted by hunters and scouts, and protect those who could not protect themselves. The townsfolk would call her their guardian angel.
She would work herself to the bone.
However, she had also quickly... relapsed once again into the obnoxious, entitled heiress as if nothing had changed. She exerted her power on her social inferiors without a second thought. Her father's exploitation elsewhere continued unabated, and she turned a blind eye to the suffering of those around her in her day-to-day.
Playing her old role was a convenient excuse that she used to justify her actions, telling herself that she had to maintain appearances in order to carry out her duties as a Magical Girl. She would donate all the money she received from her trust to help those that'd been wronged by her family. But deep down, she knew it was a lie she told herself to ease her guilt.
She thought back once again to that night.
As the sun rose over the ravaged town, she stood amidst the rubble as townspeople came out of their shelters and hiding places. Her dress was torn and her, body aching, but she had done it. She had saved the survivors.
A young boy had rushed at her crying when she returned to the observatory, tears streaming down his dirt-streaked face. The boy clung to her leg, sobbing in relief and gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for saving us."
But the victory was bittersweet. The reality of what she had become, what she had done, and the lives she had failed to save weighed heavily on her to this day.
She found solace in the boy's gratitude, but it was fleeting.
Every time she closed her eyes, the memories haunted her. The faces of those she had failed to protect, their desperate cries echoing in her mind. She could still see the helpless families torn apart by chaos and destruction. The thought of their pain gnawed at her soul, tearing away any remnants of her privileged facade. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, and doubts began to creep into her mind. The disconnects between her two identities had driven her into a crisis.
Back in the mirror of the locker room, she gazed at her reflection, her eyes brimming with unshed tears that mirrored the anguish within her soul. The once haughty and arrogant gaze now held a tinge of uncertainty, a flicker of doubt that threatened to extinguish the flame of her resolve.
She reached up, tracing the lines of her face with trembling fingers.
How had she ended up here? Was this truly the path she was meant to follow?
Did she truly make a difference? Or was she just another fraud, pretending to be a hero while her true nature remained unchanged? Evil and destruction that came in the form of monsters was straightforward and visible. But the evil that lurked within her own heart was insidious and subtle, like a poisonous vine slowly creeping its way through her soul.
Was she really worthy of the title of Magical Girl? Why had whatever cosmic force that awakened them selected her?
She gazed at her reflection, her eyes filled with a mix of desperation and sorrow.
She knew that she couldn't keep living this double life, torn between her duty as a Magical Girl and as an heiress. The doubts that had been creeping into her mind for months now consumed her every waking moment, casting a shadow over her sense of purpose. Still, this was a problem she would have time to ponder over later.
With a deep breath, she activated her Memento, feeling the familiar rush of power coursing through her veins. The transformation began, enveloping her in a swirl of light and color.
Her school uniform morphed into a dazzling and form-fitting silver and navy blue dress with ruffles, adorned with tiny stars that seemed to twinkle with their own light. Her hair lifted into an elegant blue updo, streaks of silver running through it that shone like moonlight. Long, elegant white gloves manifested up her slender arms, and a brilliant silver tiara materialized on her forehead, adorned by a dark sapphire gem.
The transformation was a spectacle of silver light and energy, each piece of her attire materializing with a burst of stardust. Her eyes glowed with a bright intensity as her pupils transformed into shimmering silver four-point stars. The final touch was her cape, flowing like a cascade of liquid moonlight, edged with a deep celestial blue that seemed to hold the essence of the night sky. It fluttered around her, responding to her every movement with an unnatural grace and sparkled with a constellation of stars.
As she stood there, transformed into her Magical Girl form, the doubts that had plagued her mind began to fade away. She would worry about it some other time.
"I'm ready," she announced to the microphone that hung suspended in mid-air.
"Acknowledged. Your identity has been confirmed via Hammurabi Nexus," a robotic man's voice crackled from an intercom. "Congratulations on your recent ascension to Rank C. Welcome to the Assembly Ceremony, Magical Girl Polaris."
She let out a deep breath, easing her nerves. This was not the first time she'd attended a formal social event, after all. It was a bit different, but she was sure she could manage.
And for just a little while tonight, she would not have to live with being herself.