I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

“In other news, the amount of kidnaped [Shadow Aligned] users has skyrocketed this week, we have news that the [Nine Stars] are deploying members to deal with the unrest in Germania…” The newscaster was speaking while a series of graphics showed the amount of kidnapped people behind her. There were photos of crying mothers, wives, and sisters in memorials.

And while this was indeed a sad problem, Elizabeth was focused on something else, “...Here we have video of the latest encounter with the [SuperVillain] that seems to be claiming responsibility, we have identified him as [The Shadow Tide] and here he is stopped by the new shining duo [Magical Girl - Law Bringer Sentinel] and [Magical Girl - Lunar Shade] plus two not reported young heroines.”

The video feed changed from the newscaster to a grainy video of four three girls fighting off the shadow attacks from the [Villain], Elizabeth could see the gun-wielding blue magical girl shooting beans of light and how the gothic magical girl used her own shadows to tie down the attacks.

That was an interesting way to suppress other shadow-attuned users, contesting the shadows with her own magic to stop the progression, probably a strategy that was born from fighting other [Tainted] before the advent.

The third one, however, was the one Elizabeth was more invested in, “Do we have anything on the third one? Reports? Gossip? Anything?” Elizabeth said as the video only showed brief moments of the blonde hair and magic as the third girl moved around the fight, slinging magic and spells as if it was no one’s business.

She recognized the construct of the spells even if the way the girl was using them was a novel approach, unlike her who just made them and used them on the spot, this girl was weaving the magic and letting it settle before casting it. If she summoned a [Mana Bolt], half the time she used it as an impromptu booster or a way to make a smokescreen.

Elizabeth on the other hand…she used it for what it was…and nothing else. This girl however was wielding her magic as if it was her plaything, from using a [Fire Bolt] to ram it into one of the [Icicle Bullets] that [Law Bringer Sentinel] had used to make an steam bomb, to cast a modified [Light] spell and turn it into a flashbang. The girl was doing everything while laughing like a kid who was having the day of her life while playing in the playground.

And then…All changed.

“No reports on the intranet nor macronet about the suspect…Heroine and Magical Girl.” Beatrice reported as the video showed [The Shadow Tide] attack a building.

At this point, the blonde girl turned her face towards the building, and the one recording it zoomed into it. To everyone else they would see a face that they wouldn’t match with anyone else, but to Elizabeth and Rossie?

“That is your shift isn’t it?” Rossie said as the face of the blonde girl morphed into an anguished scream as she rushed to the building.

Only to stop for a second as a black silhouette darted from within the rubble, a black-haired girl whose body was covered in shadows as they coalesced into a firm black armor. She darted from place to place dodging the rubble and shadow tentacles that seemed to want to get hold of her, all the while wielding a pair of obsidian daggers.

Elizabeth could see the chest plate of the girl and how on it was something that…she hadn’t put there, it was the emblem of an azure dragon caught in a web. As the girl continued to move around from place to place, she got to a point where there weren’t more spots to move around. But instead of teleporting, of using shadows to pull herself, the girl also did something that Elizabeth had never thought of doing.

She made wings of shadows from her back and used them to glide around, as she weaved through the attacks she continued to destroy the tentacles using the daggers. Elizabeth had never thought about using small weapons.

Part of it was that Papa didn’t like using weapons, and when he used them. He always went for big lugs of trees or parts of a building, the other was that her Mother also liked big explosions, so the very few times [The Stardust Explorer] had used a weapon, she favored bazookas or grenade launchers. There was also that time she was going around using [Physical Magic], aka, using a big greatsword to bonk people.

Part of the reason she had made her [Shadow Empress] persona to use a claymore was that.

But here was…her [Shadow Empress], Alice. Using daggers, it was interesting.

“She knows how to wield weapons. Didn’t knew you had been trained in weapon use Elizabeth, but daggers do indeed suit you better.” Rena said as she analyzed the movements of her [Shift].

“But she doesn’t move like Eli-Eli.” Rossie said at the side. “She moves weirdly, that isn’t Eli-Eli.”

That wasn’t her? But that was [Alice], and that was her [Shift]...Oh…”That is the [Echo] of my life as a daughter to [Echidna] and Papa….” Elizabeth said as she turned her attention back to the video feed.

The video turned to [Elemental Weaver] speaking with [The Shadow Empress], then to [Lunar Shade] and [Law Bringer Sentinel] joining around as [The Shadow Tide] continued to build his attack. They looked so carefree…

And as if making an statement the video’s quality skyrocketed as it turned its focus into a newcomer, “[The Elementalist], one of the remaining [Nine Stars].” Elizabeth said as the image of a man dressed in garbs similar to the ones Aura used showed up. He teleported the three magical girls and one Heroine away, then the video showed him wrestling with [The Shadow Tide] as the deranged man fought back.

But Elizabeth didn’t care about that anymore, she was focused on what they had seen. Her [Shifts] were okay and moving along in [Germania]. They were…[Alive] and quite well if what she was seeing was to be believed, and according to what her [Grandmother] told her, they had started using her [Mana].

And yet….Elizabeth couldn’t feel anything.

“Any chances that you can track the teleportation that [The Elementalist] did?” Elizabeth said while turning to Aura, the maid had been standing there at the back looking at the same scene.

“No, it looks like a variation of magical teleportation. But I am not sure about it, maybe if I had been on the same continent…But as is, by the time we arrive it will be too late. Even if we use the [Shadow Dragons] to accelerate the travel time.” Aura answered, so if the event happened on the same continent Aura could have tracked it?

The girl was outrageous as one could expect, was this another one of her attributes as a [Maiden of Space]? Elizabeth needed to check on that.

“Well, then our next step is obvious. We will have the rest of our vacations in Germania.” Elizabeth said as she made a wave of shadows traverse her home.

Her minions quick at work started making sure everything was in order and checking the wards her Mother had left for her, her [Royal Mages] had been hard at work studying them to make sure everything was in order.

They could give maintenance to the wards and make sure they worked, and leaving a couple of [Shadow Dragon - Civilians] to work and keep the house in one piece was easy enough. She delegated those works to the family of the shadow dragon that had sacrificed himself during the arena event. Even if those [Souls] had no conscience at the moment, she wanted to honor the loss of those who worked for her.

“I will book a plane then.” Rossie said as she brought her phone, “Do you have any preferences for flying? I think we can get a cheap one if you don’t mind the wait, but for fast travel, we will need to fly using Executive seats.”

What? Why did they need to use a plane?

“Can’t we use the teleportation station?” Elizabeth asked confused, did Rossie want to travel slowly or something? Granted she didn’t get the feeling that her [Shifts] were at risk…but she still wanted to finish this early if possible.

“Germania doesn’t have access to the teleportation station. They don’t want to get easy access to their country. Same with Zarevia really.” Aura was the one to answer. “They like to keep their secrets, the only reason Avalon has one is because it was the only way to access this place.”

So it was a problem with the country? Why?

“Fine, book tickets, the faster the better. We will burn some of the money from renting the new properties I guess.” Elizabeth said while she started setting up the problem at large that was her new properties.

She would leave a couple of scouts to rotate around her properties to make sure everything was okay, and some extra shadow dragons of the civilian variety to give maintenance to the buildings, she could leave the renting contracts to some third party and add into them that the maintenance of the building would be done by [Summons].

That surely could add some degree of exotic feeling to her properties and perhaps increase the revenue. Of course, the shadow dragons would remain hidden away from prying eyes. She couldn’t use them in her life as a [Heroine], [Villain], or [Magical Girl] if they linked it back to her after all.

Not that they were that special or unique, but paparazzi were a thing that she didn’t want to deal with.

“The tickets have been bought, we depart tomorrow. Anything else we need to prepare Eli-Eli?” Rossie said, that had been quicker than she expected.

“Are people not going to Germania in this season? Is it that bad of a place?” Elizabeth asked, usually when scheduling you needed to wait more, that was part of why she had asked to get the tickets as soon as she confirmed that her [Shift] was there.

“Not really? We are getting preferential tickets since I am using the Singh fame to get them, they think this is a business travel. Also, we are using one of their private jets, the time wait is mostly to prepare the crew and give maintenance to the plane.” Rossie said as she stood and stretched. “Really, if we want to travel there faster besides this then our only option would be to sneak into a plane that is already going there. But if we are using our [Shift] then we need to have evidence of going there the normal way. Germania is very…paranoid.”

So they would need to lodge their [Shift] there too?

“Do I need to register all my [Shifts]?” Elizabeth asked, unsure if she should even register her current rogue [Shifts].

“They will ask for your [Shift], singular. People don’t have multiple of them most of the time, so if you only register [Stardust Weaver] it will be okay.” Rossie smiled at her, such a cute smile!

“Do I need to register my weapons too?” Rena asked at the side, the red-headed girl hadn’t spoken that much, she was just happy to stay near Elizabeth. If anything the girl seemed to open to Elizabeth slowly, but every time she spoke to Elizabeth, one could see happiness in her eyes.

“Your weapons come from a [Skill] right? Just register a weapon summoner. You will be tasked to show the thing, but they can’t do anything about it since it’s mostly mana made. They may try to get you to use a [Mana Limiter] to prevent the summoning…” Rossie said turning to Rena.

“But that will not work, my [Sword] can’t be stopped by those,” Rena said after the pink-haired girl.

“That sounds like a them problem, we are doing our part by reporting it.” Rossie smiled deviously at the red-haired, they stared at each other with sly smiles on their mouth.

Elizabeth could imagine them both a second away from kissing…

“Good, then should we prepare for departure?” And yet Rossie turned to look at Elizabeth breaking the reverie that the blonde had found herself while staring at her girlfriend staring at her other girlfriend. “Elizabeth?”

“Oh, yes. I have sent the [Minions] to put our stuff into the [Garage].” Elizabeth answered summoning a blue screen with the content of her [Garage]. The list was divided into three rows with their clothes and necessities.

“Yeah, we will need at least one travel case for each. Germania will probably also try to get a [Limiter] on your [Garage].” Rossie said eyeing the inventory and selecting things that she deemed necessary to have on travel cases.

“And that will also not work…” Elizabeth said as she started organizing the items her girlfriend selected, setting them apart for later when they got the suitcases. “...Aura?”

“I will send a runner to get them, we can test the new credit cards and how the [Humans]

react to a [Minion] buying things. And if needed we can just transfer the money after stealing them.” Aura said as she snapped her fingers and Elizabeth felt one of her minions darting towards the mall.

It was interesting how after the [Minion] left her immediate area of perception the feeling got vague, the farther it traveled the more vague it became and after a point, Elizabeth could no longer feel the [Minion], unless she focused on that particular minion that is.

But she already knew how that one mana’s felt, so while she could get her perception to focus on it, since she wasn’t quite sure how the mana of [Shadow Empress] and [Elemental Weaver] felt, then she wasn’t able to pinpoint them.

Also, she wasn’t sure if they would even register as a [Minion] at all!

So far any [Doppelganger] she summoned were closer to a [Summon] than a [Minion], and while she could swap places with them, they felt like her own mana. Besides, after a certain distance unless a [Minion] took control of them, the things disappeared on their own.

How was it even possible for her two shifts to even move on their own? Did they really have a [Snapshot] of her? Or had…someone else hijacked them?

That was a particular fear that Elizabeth didn’t want to think too much about, she herself had dealt with not having a body. And while she managed to get better, the idea that someone piloting her body…or a mana copy of her body was the stuff of nightmares.

If it was Chloe then everything would be okay, she wouldn’t even mind it, she would do her best to accommodate the girl, if she wanted a place to stay. Her identity, hell, she wouldn’t even mind trying to give her back the body!

“It was done, the cashier seemed somewhat confused, but the transaction was done. The Shadow Dragon in question is sending the suitcases into the [Garage] now Mistress, please check.” Aura said turning her attention towards the skill in question.

Sure enough, Elizabeth felt the pull into her mana as a new series of objects fell in place, three suitcases of different designs and colors. One blue, one pink, and one red, the three had different motifs on them. Obviously one with dragons, one with hearts, and the last one with a sword.

Elizabeth had the feeling that her shadow dragons had modified the suitcase, no evidence but also no doubts about it.

“Thank you Aura, you can return to doing your own thing, we will fill them as needed,” Elizabeth said summoning the suitcases and leaving them on the dining table.

Aura did a small curtsy and sank into the shadows after, leaving Elizabeth alone with Rossie and Rena…And a couple of dozen shadow dragons lurking around. But most of those didn’t have that advanced thought process, and to be honest. Elizabeth had started to ignore the presence of the shadow dragons as of recently.

“Well, can’t stay I missed packing my backpack….” Rossie said as she looked at her own suitcase, even if cute the thing felt…obsolete. “Care to summon our things Elizabeth?”

“Sure thing,” Elizabeth said and with a flick of her will she summoned the things in question. Three piles of clothes materialized beside each suitcase.

Travel clothes, shoes, purses, small bags filled with cosmetics, some towels…and underwear, tons and tons of underwear.

It was quite an amusing spectacle, neither girl had the same ratio of things, Rena having the less amount of variety in underwear compared to Rossie whose suitcase was half underwear. But Rena had more variety in street clothes, mainly pants and shirts.

Compared to the two girls, Elizabeth had more sleeping wear a stark contrast with comfortable clothing. And then it was Rossie, who had the biggest amount of underwear and loose clothes of the three, each pair of underwear more lewd than the previous one.

And the girl was nonchalantly folding them to neatly fit into her suitcase as if nothing. Both Rena and Elizabeth weren’t sure where to look, or if some of those pieces could even hide something.

Granted Rossie was the one with fewer things to hide of the three girls…but still! THAT ONE WAS JUST A STRING! HOW WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO HIDE ANYTHING IF THE WHOLE THING WAS A SINGLE STRING!?!?

“I can show you how it looks if you want? Since both of you seem to be focused on these.” Rossie said with a smile as she played with the pair of underwear in question.

“...I’m fine thank you,” Rena said in an even tone, as if she had rehearsed those words a thousand times. From time to time Rena spoke like that, mostly to circumstances that seemed to fluster her.

“...Later Rossie, if you put that on we will arrive late to catch our plane,” Elizabeth said while using all her [Will] to think of happy things. Like what she could do to her girlfriend when she put those on…

IN A DATE THAT WASN’T THIS ONE, BECAUSE SHE DID NEED TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TODAY! NOT IN THE AMOUNT OF FUN SHE COULD HAVE WITH HER GIRLFRIEND!

Yes, that.

…that stupid plane couldn’t come sooner.

“Let’s just finish packing our things and go to sleep, we will go to the other side of the world, so the time zone will change, and we will need to adjust,” Elizabeth said while focusing her hands on packing her clothes and not in the RIDICOULSLY AMOUNT OF LEWD UNDERWEAR HER ROSSIE KEPT PARADING IN FRONT OF HER!

WHY HAD THIS GIRL THIS MANY LEWD UNDERWEAR? WHEN DID SHE GET THEM?

RENA? RENA STOP LOOKING LIKE A STARVED GIRL AT ROSSIE!

FOCUS GIRL!

DIDN’T YOU LOVE ME MORE?!?

ARE YOU CHEATING ON ME RIGHT NOW?!?!?!?!?