I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

“And now we need both confirmation from your student ID and a quick [System] scan. Please put your hand on the sphere.” The woman at the customs station said with one of the most fake smiles Elizabeth had ever seen as she pointed their attention towards a crystal sphere.

Elizabeth eyed it warily as she silently used her skill on it “[Identify]” to make sure nothing was amiss with this thing, she didn’t want another scene after all. Not after landing in Germania after six hours in a private jet.

 

Identify - System Scan:

Relic technology from a defunct company is an example of what has been known as [Lost Technology]. It is able to scan and give an accurate readout from the mana of the one using it. It allows the projection of the data into a connected terminal. Data recollected: -Name. -Age. -Affiliation with the Conglomerate (Defunct function, no contact with main servers). -Title. -Job. -Level.

It gave way more information than the woman was implying. But Elizabeth wanted to make sure, so she put her hand on the stupid thing. “Do I need to do something?” Asked Elizabeth, as she felt prods at her mana from the thing. She was half tempted to flood it with her mana and break it…

 

“No, just allow some of your mana to permeate into the [Artifact].” The Woman said as she kept writing something on her terminal.

 

Elizabeth silently extended her shadow under the terminal and sent one of her minions to spy on what the woman was writing, it was an average description of her and some notes about good mana control. Only [Good].

 

It made Elizabeth arch her eyebrow, she was way better than a mere [Good]. Either way, she allowed some of her mana trickle into the sphere and felt another tug at her status, the thing wasn’t quite sure what set grab, so she pointed the mana tendril that had invaded her body into her [Magical Girl] Status.

 

“There, that will be all Miss Elizabeth, next one please?” The woman said with a smile as she copied the data on it and compared it with what she had brought.

Obviously it matched with what she had shown, the next one to go was Rossie and afterward Rena, neither had trouble with the information. As far as she was seeing the terminal this woman was using didn’t show the [Titles], only names and [Jobs]. So the other information was probably being sent elsewhere…

Or whoever had sold them this tech was keeping the tasty bits to themselves.

“Who made this thing?” Elizabeth asked as soon as the scan from her girlfriends ended, “I haven’t seen them before.”

The woman smiled at her, probably not the first time someone had asked that “We aren’t quite sure, this doesn’t have any marking or emblem. But we had it after the [Advent], so the company may have been related to [Framework] or [Odyssey], we suspect it was one of the endeavors from [Odyssey] since she is [The Mother of Magic].”

….It was the Saintsworths, of course, it had been those assholes. She could almost imagine the smirking face of Alexanders while laughing surrounded by a server bank with all the data. She would need to see if she could get to those servers and delete them. No good would come from all that data, especially if no one else knew who or what was managing these things.

“I see….Is there any problem or can we leave?” Elizabeth said she was not looking forward to that goose search, at all.

“Everything seems to be in order, just remember we are under a different rule set from Avalon or Camelot. Here if you wish to work as a [Magical Girl] or a [Hero] you do need to sign with the government first, any activity not approved will be deemed as [Vigilantism] and treated as such.” The Woman said passing the three girls some pamphlets with the rules and advantages from signing with Germania.

Elizabeth wasn’t planning on signing with them, she would attempt to get back her [Shifts], and if not…if worst came to worst she would make a new [Shift]. She didn’t want to do that of course, since she wasn’t sure if her former [Shifts] would take a spot or not.

And…she wasn’t quite sure what the deal was with that [Skill], it didn’t behave as a normal one. As far as she was aware she should only have a single [Shift], unless she built a new one from scratch like her Mother did, it didn’t make sense the ease with how she had made so many.

Her Mother crafted them from scratch, granted she was at the peak of magic in this world. Even if she was using pre-crafted magic, she was very good at it. But Elizabeth? She had two different [Shifts] after a few days of learning about [Magic]. That didn’t match, at all.

“We will take it under consideration, we are coming here mostly for business and some sightseeing,” Elizabeth answered pocketing the pamphlet.

“This is a pre-honeymoon travel, after all, right Eli-Eli?” Rossie chimed on the side as she took one of her arms in a full embrace.

“I would rather travel to other places, Vitelius seems like it could be fun.” Said Rena as she took hold of the other arm, “But I will go wherever you want Eli.”

“...I see…Have fun in your pre-honeymoon planning, and welcome to Germania.” The woman at the reception desk said with a straight face as she motioned for them to move.

After that it was more normal than expected, there weren’t that many people traveling to Germania with the [Shadow Tide] roaming around in the country, and while she had seen the news, seeing it in real life was different.

“Oh look, it seems our luggage is coming,” Rossie said pointing at the far end where Elizabeth could see the beginnings of their luggage coming in with the very few other suitcases and travel cases of the other travelers.

Elizabeth of course knew where those things were at all times, since she had seeded them with shadow dragons, mostly to make sure Rossie’s underwear survived the travel and no one stole her girlfriend’s clothes.

She almost (ALMOST) killed a few workers who had opened the suitcases to see if something illegal was there, of course, they had been professionals and closed the suitcase after making sure it was only clothes. Elizabeth also understood them quite well, as the ones checking those suitcases had closed them with their face red.

Was it the cold? Was it the mental image? Or the question of WHAT WAS A PIECE OF THREAD SUPPOSED TO COVER?!?!?

Elizabeth would not ask, what she would do was rip someone’s eyes if they kept staring at those travel cases waiting to see who they were their owners. So when they came close enough for them to pick them up, Elizabeth grabbed the three together and pilled them on a nearby luggage cart. Of course, they didn’t need it, but she didn’t want the workers to imagine her Rossie with those underwear on.

So it was better for them to doubt, to wonder who of the three was the owner. “If any of the workers start doing something…no good, rip their eyes out.” Also, she sent the mental command to her [Shadow Assassins]. Just for good measure of course.

“So? What is the plan Eli-Eli?” Rossie asked as she walked at the side of Elizabeth.

“If we want to search for the [Shadow Tide], perhaps flying around using your [Shadows] would be enough?” Rena added on the side. The girl was looking around as someone who had never traveled before. And perhaps she hadn’t. Not in this life anyway.

Elizabeth continued walking pushing the cart, as soon as they were away from prying eyes (Both human and machine) she pulled the luggage into her [Garage] and left the cart near a wall, she could and probably should leave it in one of the assigned spots…

But she was annoyed at the workers leering at her girlfriends (She ignored the eyes pointed her way, she was a looker, and looking at her was natural). So she was petty and made more work for them! What? It was only fair!

She couldn’t rip the image from their minds…Or could she?

“Eli-Eli? First we deal with the current problem, you can do evil later okay.” Rossie said pulling at her.

Elizabeth had thought about using her [Shadows] to invade the [Souls] of the workers and pulling the figments of imagination from the mind of the [MALES] as punishment, but Rossie as always was right. She could do that later!

For now, there were more important things to do, like searching for [Alice] and [Elemental Weaver]. “We will go to the Government Office first, we will ask if we can join the search and rescue effort without signing our rights to Germania. If they allow us good…” Elizabeth said searching the address for the building in question.

“If not?” Rena asked on the side, her eyes turning into a dangerous glint. This girl wanted blood! And she looked like a cute dog while doing so!

“If not we will use alternate [Shifts] and wreak havoc. You have an extra slot right Rena?” Elizabeth said looking at the red-haired girl.

“Yes, I have one slot open. I can build whatever you need in any theme required. Do you have any preference?” Rena said nodding vigorously at her.

…Yep, she was cute.

“Anything you like, I personally think you would look cute in a sailor uniform. But I may be biased, and while your body isn’t quite the tomboy style…Yeah, you could make it work.” Elizabeth nodded sagely imagining Rena with a Sailor dress in a tomboyish style.

She would miss the big assets of her girlfriend in that mode, but the cute innocent angry red-haired look that Rena would have….Yeah, she liked the mental image.

“I already have an alternate [Shift], but if you want anything in specific I can work towards it.” Rossie chimed at the side.

She already had one?

“It’s called [Lust Tempress], the [Security Node] is stronger in that one, and it also diverts thoughts using [Emotions], so it has sturdy security. But I can match you two if needed.” Rossie said nonchantaly.

“...[Lust Empress]?” Elizabeth asked, she remembered the video feed and the image of her girlfriend dressed in a sundress with horns, cute small bat wings, and a tail…A tail that Elizabeth could imagine could serve to do wonders. “...You are good like that Rossie, yes…we can work with that…Rena can be the [Ruler of Wrath]...”

It was all coming together…

“And you?” Rena asked at the end, “What will be this alternate persona you will make?”

…What indeed.

“We will see if they don’t allow us free reign,” Elizabeth answered, she didn’t want to commit to any kind of image, lest the thing started forming. Her first two [Shifts] had been made by a conscious effort, she had used the [Station] made by [Alexanders] to make them.

Both [Elemental Weaver] and [Shadow Empress] had been made like that. Even if now, looking back at it, it was weird the fact that she made a red-eyed black-haired girl, it was too much different from her appearance after all.

Actually…had she even made the face behind the mask? Or was that the [Echo] affecting her?

“Okay then, we will start working towards the [Shifts] after learning if they let us roam around or not. If they don’t I do need some time to release a few [Seals] within my [Soulscape] to let that [Tempress]out.” Rossie's smile was cute and adorable like always, but she could perceive an undertone of [Hunger] in her tone. “You will of course help me with the fallout, right Eli-Eli?”

….She should answer yes right? But something told her that it was a bad idea to do so.

“Of course Rossie, we are here to help.” But Rena answered first, was this also part of her [Instincts]?

“Thank you Rena.” Rossie smiled sweetly at the other girl and gave her an adorable peck on the cheek.

What about mine?

“Let me get a cab, we can wait at the stop there Eli-Eli,” Rossie said pulling out her phone and using one of the apps, the girl was ready as always.

So that left Elizabeth grumbling while sitting for her missing smoochie. At least she had Rena at the side who seemed happy for the whole thing. The girl had seemed to be happier and more carefree after they left the Singh Manor. Elizabeth wasn’t quite sure why, but she didn’t mind the new less taciturn girl.

Even after the whole event where she almost assaulted Rena, the girl hadn’t changed at all. That was a very dangerous attitude to have, not that Elizabeth minded it. At least she only was like that towards her.

Some [MALES] had tried to flirt with the three girls during the travel, but Rena’s answers were as sharp as her sword, and Rossie’s glare dealt with the others that had a thick face. Elizabeth hadn’t needed to deal with them at all, and while she didn’t mind being admired (Again, she was a looker, it was natural). She didn’t like to share her girlfriends.

“It will be all right Eli.” Rena suddenly said as she grabbed the hand of the blonde girl. “I am sure your [Shifts] are fine and will come to you on their own. They are part of you, right? The normal thing would be to return.”

…Was that the case?

“You think so?” Elizabeth said, she was unsure about that. Stelliana Fortuna had implied that the [Shifts] had a chance to live their own lives. So that meant that either they had been granted the option to move witouth her…Or that they tried to do so.

“Of course, they are you. They must want what is better for you. Trust me on this.” Rena said full of confidence, so much that Elizabeth was having a hard time refuting her. It was as if the girl was speaking from experience.

“....I am sure you are right,” Elizabeth said as she smiled, she wished that she could have the same level of confidence as Rena. “Maybe they just don’t know that they are part of me, or they forgot. Or perhaps they can’t use all my [Skills] and as such they can’t go into the [Soulscape].”

And that was the thing, if they could use her [Skills], it would be as easy as going into the [Soulscape] to reunite with her.

But they hadn’t done that.

“The cab is coming! I asked for one of the bigger ones, so we will have plenty of room to play around!” Rossie suddenly said popping into the conversation. “So? What is the plan then? How do we approach [Shadow Empress] and [Elemental Weaver]?”

“You don’t think they will come to us?” Elizabeth asked. It was an interesting contrast, one of her girlfriends was sure they would come, while the other seemed to think that they would not.

“I mean, if they could come towards us, or knew to come towards us. They would have done so after we landed.” Rossie said pointing around them. “They aren’t here, nor came. So either they can’t feel Eli-Eli… Or they can’t come.”

Oh right, that was a thing too. [The Shadow Tide] had seemed to want to go after [Shadow Empress], it wanted to get ahold of [Alice]. And Elizabeth wasn’t quite sure why.

“We will approach with caution, if they have access to all my [Magic] and [Skills]....they could be problematic to deal with. If [Alice] can either command or disrupt my [Shadows]....” Elizabeth didn’t want to think about that.

Her power with the shadows was a big part of her power, If someone else could negate or outright strip it of her, she wouldn’t lose only half her power, she would lose probably at least 80% of it.

It was a good thing her grandmother had tried to teach her how to wield her magic more freely, but while she had more spells and ideas, she hadn’t tested them yet. Perhaps if she needed to make a new [Shift], she could focus more on [Magic]?

Perhaps she could follow the example of Rena and Rossie? One was a [Temptress], the other would be a [Ruler]....Then she could be…a [Seeker], yes. She would seek the power of magic with this theoretical new shift.

“Eli-Eli? The cab is here.”Rossie suddenly said bringing her out of her plans starting to take form, she could feel the magic wanting to form. As if she was touching upon something important to her, as if being a [Seeker] was what she needed to achieve her progress as a [Mage].

“Let’s go then.” Elizabeth said climbing into the cab, “Towards the government building.”

“Sure thing little ladies.” The cab driver said as he waited for them to climb into the cab, “No luggage?”

“No sir, we like to travel light,” Rena said in a small tone.

The cab driver as they like, started making small talk, mostly speaking about the great parts of Germania, the tourist spots, and the good restaurants. The new politician of turn that wanted to take power away from the [Nine Stars], how they had managed to make leave [The Sniper] from here.

“Weren’t two members here?” Elizabeth asked, making the man stop for a few seconds as if he wanted to answer but only came blank, and after that, he continued as if nothing. “I mean, maybe? I think there was another, but…I’m not too sure? You know how it is with the [Nine Stars], they probably had a sidekick or something.”

Elizabeth tried to make memory, and as far as she was aware, [The Juggernaut] should have been here with [The Sniper]. But…he wasn’t part of the [Nine Stars] was he?

No, her search into them had come with the names of:

-Echidna

-The Warlock

-The Prophet.

-The Beast Master.

-The Elementalist.

-The Monk

-The Sniper

-The Tinkerer

-The Traveler

The missing ones were her parents, [The Juggernaut] and her childhood crush [Shadow Pact]. Her parents were obviously out since they ascended, but what about [Shadow Pact] and [The Juggernaut]?

Maybe they lost in the politics of the [Nine Stars]? She wanted to investigate, but didn’t want to trigger more safeguards from the technology her parents had left her, she still remembered how her old phone had been teleported away. For that reason she was leery about using more of the stuff her parents left.