New Beginning 23: One for the Record Books

[Ericus Europaeus (Bug)]

CONTENTS DELETED

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[Zaleramancer]

There's a small bang and a puff of confetti as a envelope sealed with a white wax seal depicting an open eye on a hand appears in the air next to Vault.

It hovers within easy reach in what could be called a polite fashion.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Knight looks back at the sound to see Vault staring at the letter, wondering whether or not to take it. He looks about for anyone who might have been the sender and, seeing now one, hesitantly plucks the letter out of the air. It takes another few moments of consideration for him to decide to open and read it.

I probably wasn't even for him. Why would anyone send him a letter?

[Zaleramancer]

The letter contains a cheque and an official looking letter.

Dear Gentleman Vaultboy Prime of Earth, Reality 31-blit, 6894/k Dimension
    In recompense for recent actions, we at-

There's an unintelligible multicolored squiggle, like half a dozen names attempting to occupy one space. It's mildly disorienting to look at.

                         -pay to you 75 Gal-Standard Gig-Creds.
                                                                                                                          We wish you the best.

As you watch, the currency listed shifts rapidly through a few types before settling on the Euro.

It now reads 510,640 Euros.  

A tiny note also flutters out. It reads-

planet vix

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"What is it?" Knight asked, as Vault pockets the check and the small note.

"Not sure. Time cop compensation, maybe? Guess I'm taking a European vacation when all this is done with. Either of you guys know what 'planet vix' means?"

[Philote]

Dash regales the group with a tale of this settlements formation and how a group of Correnians had formed a mining operation here long ago. When some other Core Users had arrived several years ago, they had found this place in disarray and the natural wildlife being destroyed by the operations. They had used their powers to clean up the area, and while not completely removing the mining portions of the economy, lowered it to a healthy enough level by introducing other sources of income.

He is going through the tale when the letter appears.

"Vix you say?" Dash asks. "Can't say that I know of it. You might want to ask someone who has traveled off world some more, like Phi. That might be a meeting for another day as we've arrived at our destination."

Dash has lead you further into town and has stopped at a local restaurant. Inside one of the windows, you can see a woman in a sundress hover across the place and take a seat at her own table.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Knight hops down off the fish to open the door as Vault plants himself against the side of the building and slides down onto the ground. Knight slows down and turns to look at him. "Aren't you coming in?"

Vault points to frankenfish. "You're the one that insisted on bringing that along. I'm staying out here to make sure it doesn't eat anybody."

"It's not going to eat anyone." Knight says, offended.

"Then I'm going to make sure no one boots it. Just go inside, have your meeting order something." Vault replies.

"Need I remind you that we don't have any money?"

"I've got it handled." Vault almost yells. "Just go."

Knight looks like he's about to argue further for a moment, the shakes his head and tromps inside. Vault watches him go before standing up and taking on a blue, gooey consistence again. "Alright fish, you and me have work to do." He says as his form shifts to that of a small, bipedal cat. The most intriguing thing about this cat, however, was the large golden coin affixed to its head that Vault delicately brought his unfamiliar arms up to grasp. He took aim at the fish.

Inside, Knight shook himself out of his anger, slapped his face a few times, and put on his best smile.

Do your best to keep from looking lie a psychopath to this one. the stick wrapped round his arm said. You've already screwed that up with the one outside.

"Be quiet." He said under his breath, but nonetheless made a conscious effort to tone down the smile as he followed Dash.

[Philote]

Dash leads Knight up to the woman to make the introduction. "Knight, this is Miss Shield, Miss Shield, this is Knight."

She sits at her table and a third detached arm made of a light blue energy forms in the air and extends its hand for Knight to shake. "I certainly hope you're entertaining after inviting me all the way down here."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Knight shakes it with both hands, vigorously, before sitting down. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Shield. Fortunately, I don't know how entertaining I'll be. I'm just here for information. You see-"

He interrupted by the sound of the door as vault walks in, right up to the table, and lays down a pile of five gold Koban coins. "There, that's probably drinks and an entree." He nods to Miss Shield, then power walks back out through the door. "I'll have enough to pay for lunch after a few more rounds." he calls over his shoulder as he goes.

Knight picks up one of the gold coins and looks at it with confusion and interest, before shaking his head and pacing it back on the table. "My, uh, companion Mr. Gentleman Vaultboy." he explains. "He appears to be paying. Anyway, I was informed by Mr. Dash that you were the person to talk to regarding shield and warding based core magic."

[Philote]

"Indeed. That would be my specialty" she says and you see a ripple of blue light form in her eyes. The light passes over her skin and clothes, revealing a hexagonal pattern of a force field covering her body before fading away.

"What brings you all the way to this corner of the dimension for information like that?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Knight is silent for a long while. Long enough for Vault the re-enter the room carrying a fat stack of coins. Then he takes a deep breath.

"I need to know how to break a ward. It's vitally important." He says, with the tone of someone telling you that your child has died. Vault stops short, hanging back to listen.

[Philote]

"What can you tell me about it?" she asks. "I can hardly give you a single answer that would cover wards from all the worlds."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"This is what I managed to get from the witnesses I've spoken with." Knight pulls a small notebook out of his robes and flips to a specific page. On it is a hexagonal pattern, points of light drawn at the tips of each. At each tip is written a phrase, and a number.

1. You will never be free upon this world.

2. Our efforts and sacrifices will not be in vain.

3. This is your punishment.

4. And your end is today.

5. Warding Arts.

6. Lemniscate Prison. and on this one the point of light is larger than the others.

"The words are the incantation the caster used." Knight explains. "The numbers, the order in which the mote appeared. In addition to this..."

He turns the page, showing detailed drawings of a flower like wand and a small statuette. "These were the tools he used during his incantation."

He flips to another page, and this one and the next are covered with symbols and wards. "These are the wards that make up the seal itself, as many as I was able to to see. I've tried bringing this to others, non-core users, but everyone I've spoken with has told me it's unbreakable."

[Philote]

Miss Shield levitates the notebook across the table and hovers it before her eyes, taking a look at a couple of the pages. "Well, Dash certainly did not mention that I would be getting involved with something of this caliber."

"This is the result of an Overdrive, yes? A natural, untamed Overdrive as well, one that occurred after the Core User had already assimilated magic and data from off world. The result must have been quite a beauty if you were there to witness it yourself."

"Why would you want such a thing undone?" she asks. "Was it used on someone or something you care for?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"No." He says quietly. "In fact, the creature behind this seal is one I hate very much. But nothing lasts forever, Miss Shield. Eventually the seal will weaken or break on its own. I'd rather it break in a time where I know there are those strong enough to kill it, rather than gambling on the future. For the sake of the future, for my obligations, and for all those it's killed. That's what I want to break this seal for."

Even though no one in the room can see his eyes, the boy gives off an aura of steadfast resolve that even Vault can feel. What on Earth had he gotten himself mixed up in?

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(This is Billy, isn't it?)

[Philote]

"And the one who cast the Overdrive?" she asks. "Why have you not turned to them for help?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

(Well it ain't Amon the Mummy.)

"He thinks me dead." He says sadly. "Unfortunately, he attended my funeral. Meeting someone whose funeral you attended cast you into momentary confusion over whether you yourself are alive, and during this confusion it's possible to entice certain entities that lurk the grey path. In the worst cases, you could be forever marked to things that lurk in the spirit world."

[Philote]

Miss Shield raises an eyebrow at your explanation. "A superstitious one you are. Are you sure you want to tackle this task if you're not even willing to startle an old acquaintance?"

She takes another moment to look over your notes. "Cause if you are, then you're going to have to pick your poison."

Taking out two of the sheets of paper, she writes something down and slides them across the table. On the left, you see a depiction of two different women and some information written out below them. On the right, you see the depiction of a large house and several doors floating around it.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Knight picks up them both up, eying them with interest.

I'd suggest the babes, but I've seen how you are with women. says the voice in his head. Then again, you also don't have the best sense of direction. I'd love to see you handle all those doors.

He looks from one to the other with indecision, carefully weighing his options when suddenly the one with the woman is plucked out of his hand. "I like objects better, personally. Less complicate than people." Vault says. "Besides which, I'll be able to say I've been to the fortress of doors."

"I don't have a preference." Knight says, then suddenly smiles. "And this door fortress does seem like a quite intriguing place." he says with barely contained enthusiasm.

"It's decided then. WAITER!" Vault calls. "We're going off to get lost and die, but tonight I have money to spend. Bring us something fizzy and sweet to drink."