I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

As soon as the shadow man said those words she felt a strong pull from her shadows, as if something was trying to worm into her shadow and get ahold of her. Something dark, something sinister, something that was [Wrong]. “GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF OR LEAVE!” The voice of [Lunar Shade] pierced through her as a couple of blue roses blossomed in her Shadow soothing her.

 

“Sis?” Elzbeth said as she walked closer to her, magic circles hovering above her hands. “We can leave if you want.”

 

[Teleportation], the only spell her sister had crafted from scratch, it was how they had gotten away, but it was also risky, every time her sister used this spell she would spend at least half a week with fever and pain. It was why she preferred running away first before they got this badly cornered.

 

“....” She wanted to accept the offer, to run away. But looking behind them she could see [Lunar Shade] throwing spears made of shadows at the Shadow Man. She could see [Law Bringer Sentinel] shooting at the shadow man using a pair of guns.

 

Both seemed to move as if they weren’t fighting in a small room, dodging and weaving attacks as the Shadow Man tried to corner them, all as if they had as much room as they needed. No, if they could help and deal with him… If they managed to kill him now… They would have as much time as needed to search for who they were.

 

They had gotten plenty already, both her name and her sister’s magical girl name. “No.” So she steeled her resolve and took a deep breath, “We will help them as much as possible while staying outside the shadow man’s range. And stay near the exit, as soon as there is danger you teleport away at my signal.”

 

The shadow Man only wanted her after all, “I will teleport us away as soon as you are hurt, got it.” Elzbeth answered with a nod. “We finally found a clue about who we are, both you as Alice and…”

 

The mana around her sister seemed to thrum with power, as if waiting for the words of the blonde girl “ My [Name], now we can fight better since we know [I am The Elemental Weaver].” And as the words left her mouth, the blonde girl started shining in golden light.

 

The shadows that had been encroaching on them started receding as the light of the change came, somehow to her eyes, it was clear as day how the change started happening. From within the body of her sister, a veritable amount of blue-like energy started pouring, fueling the transformation…But she hated it, it was almost as if this energy not only was fueling it, but taking hold of her sister, and getting ready to pull at it to take her sister away.

 

“[Now that was a rush…It feels as if I could teleport us away all the way to the other side of Germania.]” Her sister, no. [The Elemental Weaver] spoke at her as the magical circles started forming around her, one for each element. Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, Light, Thunder and….Shadow. “[This will not take long Alice, I will deal with this asshole and we can go back to sleep.]”

 

Her sister's form was full of energy, her moves graceful as she joined the fight, it was almost as if she was a fairy dancing between the rays of a blue moon in a garden of flowers. And yet…

 

Alice couldn’t help but look at her hand, she had focused as much energy, as much shadow as she could into her hand…”A single dagger…” And that was all she managed to make, it felt as if it could disappear in a second’s notice.

 

“Rwaaar” Even the roar of Reginald seemed to make it unstable.

 

“...I know Reginald, that I am weak…But how can’t I try? When my sister is at risk…” The only person in this cursed world who didn’t hate her eyes, who didn’t mind helping her. That even though Elzbeth knew that all it would take for her to be safe was…walking away.

 

“This isn’t your fight.” And suddenly the growl of Reginald morphed into words in her ears, the words of an old man. “And yet, you would wield once more your sword? This was a second chance granted to you. Even if it was by a mistake or luck, you will attempt to wield your power again? To tie yourself to the fate of this world?”

 

“I don’t want something as grand as that, the fate of the world? I couldn’t care of it…I just want my sister to be safe.” Alice answered as she eyed the small lizard…no. As she looked at the Obsidian Dragon that was standing between her and the fight.

 

Between her and the being of nightmares.

 

“I can take you to safety you know. All it takes would be some shadows, thankfully we have a [Shadow Tide] nearby. Say the words and our Mistress will descend upon this place and rescue you and [Elemental Weaver].” Reginald said, the words were tempting, calling someone to solve her problems?

 

“No.” But she refused, somehow she got the feeling that accepting that would be spitting in the resolve of her sister, the sweet girl that only wanted to sleep was fighting with all her might. “I want to respect my sister’s wish. I would rather fight.”

 

“Then say your name. Summon your will, sharpen your [Wish], and make your summon.” Reginald said as his figure started to change once more. Gone was the small lizard that she had learned to like. Instead what stood before her was a humanoid dragonoid dressed in a Butler’s suit. “Look upon your [Heart] and call your name.”

 

Her name? She just learned her name a few moments ago…And yet she got the feeling that the name Reginald spoke was different. Was it like how it had been for Elzbeth? How she [Shifted] when she called upon her name as [Elemental Weaver]?

 

Then what was her name?

 

She focused inwardly, closing her eyes and ignoring the sound of the battle that was happening around her, she focused, the last thing she heard was the sound of a wall breaking, probably the fight had moved to the outside. But she didn’t pay attention to that.

 

Instead, she pondered upon the question, who was she? She was an Asian-looking girl, she had white smooth skin and a petite complexion, unlike her sister she wasn’t blessed with good proportions, neither on her chest or bottom. But what she had was silk-like black hair and…Crimson-like ruby eyes.

 

And it seemed as if her name was Alice.

 

But that was it?

 

The more she pondered upon the question the more she felt sinking in herself, at some point the darkness embraced her and seemed to be about to suffocate her.

 

*BANG*

 

And before that feeling suffocated her a thunder-like sound resounded and she felt the waves of energy hit her almost making her fall into the ground, no wait a second, the ground?

 

Opening her eyes Alice found herself…. somewhere else, “Welcome to the reflection of your [Self].” And at her side stood Reginald in his butler form.

 

“What is this? And…what is that?” Alice said as she looked around her, she could see a house in the middle of a farm, the house was cozy and…familiar? The fields seemed to speak to her about a humble life, she could see toys around, a bicycle, a baseball bat, and the matching ball and glove…

 

“Some call it the reflection of the Soul, some call it the reflection of the self. It is a place that shows us who we are, and who we aspire to be. It can show us our traumas, or dreams…Or our wish.” Reginald spoke as he walked toward the house, as soon as he placed his hand on the door, the whole house crumbled into dust. “This was going to be your [Soulscape] had things gone…different.”

 

“And that?” Alice said as the house finished crumbling away, it pained her heart to see the house crumble into dust. But where it had stood the familiar building, now stood a crater with an obsidian greatsword that discharged electric currents around it.

 

“That…is what you need should you wish to retain your powers. Taking that will set your future in stone, your life will no longer be yours to command, should you draw it…You will be tied once more.” Reginald spoke as he stood at the side of the sword, on his hand a black bracelet formed, “Or you can take this one, it will summon our [Mistress] she will understand your troubles, and with her blessing. You may continue your life.”

 

It was…. suspicious, Reginald continued to speak of this [Mistress] of his, “Who do you work for? Why don’t you want me to regain my powers? Will I be able to help Elzbeth if I take that stupid sword?” Alice asked as she walked to the sword and stood a few meters away from it.

 

Even at this moment, wild discharges continued coming from the sword, but…something called to her, to take the sword and embrace its power.

 

“My mission was to be sure you and [Elemental Weaver] survived, to nurture and help you. My [Mistress] will understand it if you wish to remain independent… But should you take that back, the future you seek…may never come.” Reginald said as he turned to the bracelet. “This was once used by our [Mistress], should you take it it will sever the connection that wants to form. It will mean you will no longer be engulfed by the shadows. But that will also mean that you will be able to bloom as your own.”

 

So Reginald seemed to imply that taking the weapon would bind her on some level to this mysterious Mistress, but taking the bracelet would mean severing her only connection to her power over shadows, it would mean that she would probably live a normal life. It would probably mean that the stupid yellow gem that the shadow man was using wouldn’t be able to trace her.

 

If she called back Elzbeth they could teleport away and be free, they could live as they wanted, leave all this behind…

 

“It would be a good life, not having to look at our backs, not to worry about a deranged man chasing us till exhaustion…” If Elzbeth was here she would probably take that option, hell, she should take it too, it was the smart choice. “BUT I REFUSE!”

 

Alice said as she took the first step forward and prepared to grit her teeth as the discharge from the greatsword hit her, only for it to course through her body without hurting her.

 

“I will stand my ground, if this stupid sword is the way to unlock my powers, I will take it!” As she took each step forward more and more discharges flew her way, it was almost as if she was a lightning rod, and yet. None hurt her, none made her wince, they all seemed to travel through her body and nurture it.

 

“Don’t regret your decision today…” Alice heard Reginald speak at the side, but she didn’t answer.

 

Instead, she stood before the GreatSword and grabbed it by the handle, the weapon morphed in her hands turning into a pair of daggers. “[No, I will not regret it.]” She wasn’t built to use weapons like that, her build was petite after all. No, like her Papa would say, she was nimble, so to use her attributes she should go for small weapons.

 

“Then welcome back to the world, Alice.” Reginald said as the energy within the daggers traveled through her body remaking it and giving her a set of armor that felt more like a second skin.

 

“[No, not Alice.]” She said as the information of herself made itself available once more, two names coming to the very front. One for herself…And another one of someone she needed to find. “[I am The Shadow Empress]”

 

And as soon as she said the name she pulled down the helmet visor on her face to hide her face, “[...whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy]” Alice groaned at the extra edgy name she had been stuck with.

 

But the black-haired girl didn’t have time to dwell on that as she was pulled away from the now destroyed farm, as she was leaving this mental space she could see it crumble, all that it had been formed was slowly being engulfed in black flames.

 

“SIS DODGE!” Was the first thing she heard as her consciousness returned to the real world.

 

Her body moved before she was able to process what was happening, first, she dropped to the ground as her clothes started shining in azure light, shifting and turning into a set of obsidian armor.

 

She started moving before the change finished, for more tentacles made of darkness started sprouting around her, “[You will not take me that easily.]” Alice said as she summoned the pair of daggers she had made within the realm of her mind.

 

Wielding them as if she had used them all her life she started cutting the shadow tentacles that came her way one by one. Her armor was almost done and the first thing she did was to lower down her helmet vizor once more, hiding as much of her face as possible.

 

“Hmm….So you were the [Shadow Empress] after all.” Lunar Shade said as she flew down near her. “We have you logged as potential [Villain], but you never actually did anything. So I had some hope you would rectify your way.”

 

“I am the one that holds the law here, and if she never committed a crime. In the eyes of The [Law Bringer Sentinel], she is a [Hero].” The blue-haired magical girl said as she turned to look at her while still gunning down other shadow tendrils around them.

 

“THIS IS SO COOL, WE CAN BE A DUO LIKE THEM!” Her Sister Elzbeth on the other hand was jumping around her pocking at Alice's armor here and there. “I mean, we can be cooler. Since you are this mysterious armored knight instead of the emo gothic Lolita and I can be the dashing lady instead of the old grumbling woman that for some reason still uses miniskirts.”

 

“...”

“...”

“...”

 

“What?” Elzebth asked while looking at the reaction of the other three girls.

 

“Let’s…just continue fighting against the shadow man sister,” Alice said as she summoned her powers, they had changed somewhat after she found the weird sword within her mindscape.

 

Before she needed to focus for a few minutes to be able to call upon her power to manipulate shadows, now?

 

“[Mjolnir]” All she needed was to call upon the name and a weapon made of azure metal formed itself in her hand, it thrummed with power, both from thunder and shadows. “Go”

 

And she only needed to point it before it shot itself as a comet toward her target.

 

“Well, we can’t let the newbie show upon us now, can we?” Law Bringer Sentinel said as her guns shone in blue light fusing into a rifle, “[Law Abiding Sniper]”

 

The blue-haired magical girl made a single bullet from all her energy, loading it into the rifle she pointed at the center of the shadow tide, the same place the hammer made of thunder and shadows had been thrown at.

 

As soon as she started aiming a magical circle materialized on her eyes to help her aim, the girl barely took any time to aim before she pulled the trigger, the amount of energy released by the shot almost made Alice and Elzbeth trip.

 

The size of the shot was almost as big as Law Bringer Sentinel. Alas.

 

“D̵̟̲̞̾i̶̧͇̗̭̙͖̦̣̬͊͑ṣ̵̡͎͎̹̠͌͑̈́͊̒̐̎̀͊̌͌̅̕͠͝ş̷̧̻͆̃́͛̍̊̚͘ͅi̵̢̼̪̭̝͐̎͊̕p̵̡͍̳̻͓̺̰̠̬͈̙̀̂́͊͝a̴̛̟͍̤͚̬̮̬̪͔̯̟̩̼̞͇͙͆̀̓̀̔̽̄̆͝t̶̡̢͙̫̭͕̬̞̟͚̝̯̺̓͆̄͗̎̋̕ͅë̵̘̦̻̻͖̤́̈́͗͌̾̉͝”

 

A single word from the shadow man was all it took for a spear made of shadows to form and fly straight at both the hammer and the shot, first, it intercepted the hammer, making all the energy from her attack explode upon contact. Only instead of dispersing, the shadow spear exploded into seven beams of shadows that rejoined behind the hammer and flew at the sniper shot. Making it also burst before it even came close to the shadow man.

 

“That will be enough, [Shadow Pact].” A new voice spoke, making Alice move with the speed of lighting to stand beside Elzbeth. “You were allowed free reign because [Echidna] wanted to see what you would do. But all you have been doing is kidnap Shadow users.”

 

The man who showed himself was dressed in a loose robe with a weird hat that seemed to be made of cloth, he was floating on the sky as if he was walking on the street, unlike her sister who was using wind spells, or Lunar Shade that seemed to be using some variation of Shadow platforms under her feet, or Law Bringer Sentinel that was using weird blue butterfly wings.

 

This man seemed to be quite literally standing in the sky.

 

“[Elementalist], leave. I will have my ̴̡̞̤̜̺̳̣̥̳̬͍̈́͒̉̌͑̊̊̉̓̑͑̚͝S̸̗͓͎̜̥̤͙̒͐̑̿̈͛̐̆̈́̈̎̃͂̈́͘͜͠i̶̘͕̹͉̥̜̬̩̮̫͊̽ś̶͓̳͙̪͕̩̘͕̫͍͎̰̤̿͗͗̏t̵͖̖̥͙̠͑̇̒̆̂́͒̅̄́̒͋̋̈́̕͝͝e̸͕̤̞̝̟̰̝͉͋̽̐r̵̟̥̺̻͍̱͓̈́̆̈́͝͝ back. No matter what [Echidna] says, I will rescue her.” The shadow man said.

 

“I can’t do that, can’t I?” The robed man answered as a Magical Circle casually stuck itself to Elzbeth, Lunar Shade, Law Bringer Sentinel, and then to Alice’s back. “You pretty ladies can leave.”

 

And before Alice could even think of saying anything she took her sister’s hand and was teleported away. She felt the energy of the magic wanting to rip her away from her sister, but her own [Thunder] coursed through her body and made sure she didn’t let go of her sister’s hand.

 

Her shadows also started working, they somehow seemed to be able to [Sew] the space as it wanted to rip them apart, to send them to different locations. She wasn’t quite sure how…

 

“Focus Alice, think of what you want to do, weave that thought into your mana. Pour it into your Core and let the [Idea] flow through your [Skill].” The voice of Reginald spoke within her mind.

 

So she did that, first, she thought about what she wanted, she wanted to stay with her Sister. She then poured that [Wish] into her mana and fueled it into her [Skill]. “[Shadow Link]” The words came as natural as breathing, and with that, she felt her connection with her sister, with [Elemental Weaver] solidify, what was already there was strengthened, and suddenly, she knew where her sister was at all moments.

 

“So this is how you were able to find me.” And she knew how the blonde girl always seemed to know where she was. The cheeky girl was using her magic to track her…