[Tokusatsu Themes, Transformation, Corruption, Mind Control]

The bright moonlight shone in through an older man’s window, illuminating the frankly terrible state the room was in. Clothes strewn about, unorganized boxes, the works. It looked like a bomb had gone off within the room, if not something worse.

And sitting in the middle of it all, with his hands wrapped around a single object, was the man himself. Katsuo Maki, who taught homeroom at Mimoto Highschool. The man who had done his best to show the children of tomorrow what they had to do to succeed. The man who tried his best to hide the pain. And the man who missed his daughter, so very much.

“Natsuki…” Katsuo muttered as he slowly brushed his hand against his cheek, wiping away the tears that had started streaming. He knew that he couldn’t keep doing this. He had lost so much over the last few years, and yet he kept on trucking… Just because she would be disappointed in him.

Her smile. Her wonderful smile. It was the one thing that brought him joy. The picture of the two of them, plus his departed wife… It was something that he cherished above all else. Because it was the last time they were all truly happy.

Sure, she always tried to make him smile. But those smiles would never last. Because the weight on his shoulders from society passing him by, and the children of tomorrow being too much to handle… It was enough to make a man’s soul slowly but surely tear itself apart.

And then she disappeared. His beloved little Natsuki. The girl whose smile radiated so much warmth in his life… She didn’t come home. He was devastated, and when he received the news from her superior, he felt like the world had cracked and crumpled right then and there.

The only thing that kept him going was the fact he knew she would be disappointed in her if he didn’t. Her smile would turn into a frown if she knew that he would just give up. That’s how it always worked. Every time he complained, his dear little Natsuki hugged him and told him how much she believed in him. And that he couldn’t just give up like this…

“I’m sorry, Natsuki. Daddy… Daddy just can’t…” The tears kept pouring down. He couldn’t find the words that he needed. He could feel his throat choking up with every moment that passed. His emotions were getting the better of him… But how was he supposed to cope? A father, losing his daughter at her brightest moment, would never be able to forget her…

...He had to get over it. At least for another few days. He knew that it wouldn’t ever end, but she really would be disappointed in him if he kept being like this. And… And besides, there was a light at the end of the tunnel…

Katsuo slowly wiped away his tears, and put down the framed picture of his family. He’d have to clean his room one day, but today wasn’t the day. Besides, it wasn’t where he did his work…

As he walked out of his office and into the living room, ignoring the fact that his shirt was completely drenched by his tears, he slowly came to a stop outside his daughter’s room. The room that he had been preserving meticulously for the last three years.

The door was open. Somebody was inside. It couldn’t… She couldn’t have returned, could she?

“Natsuki..?” Katsuo’s voice was hoarse, the words struggling to come out. But those very same words were filled with hope as he pushed the door open completely, turning on the light to see who was waiting for him.

Only for his expression to sour from hope to disappointment, sighing as he saw a familiar looking blonde on the windowsill. A woman that he had heard plenty about, both from his students and his fellow faculty members.

This was the woman that had caused them all so much trouble over the last few months. ‘Bat’ was what she called herself, though he could tell that it was just some sort of alias. Still, if she was here, then…

“Good evening, Maki-sensei.” Baroness Bat said, bowing her head respectfully towards the older man. “Your heartache has summoned me, and my…” She muttered, slowly bringing her fingers to her lips. “It’s something beyond my wildest imagination. To have a daughter disappear like that, and have her image haunting you for years…”

Katsuo didn’t say anything, just staring towards her as he closed the door behind him. He knew what she was here to do. He had heard more than enough from the quarantined students.

“What’s the matter?” Bat asked, resting her head on the back of her hand. “Men like you, the ones with their hearts about to burst from your own emotions overflowing, usually have more to say when pressed.” She said as she climbed off the windowsill, her heels muted thanks to the fluffy carpet below. “I can help you, Maki-sensei. We all can.” The silver-tongue she was known for slipped out, as a golden glow appeared inside her ample bosom…

He closed his eyes. The offer was tempting. He understood why his students had fallen prey to this, but he shook his head. “I don’t need it.” He said, crossing his arms. “I already have all the help I need.”

The bat-themed woman blinked, before flinching as a golden glow slowly resonated from the man’s body, and she slowly smiled. “Ah… I see.” She said, closing her own eyes as she walked back towards the window, knowing she had been too late.

“I will give you one piece of advice then, Maki-sensei.” The blonde woman said, curtsying gently as she opened one of her crimson eyes. “Let the world understand. That’s why our Lady personally chose to help you.”

With that, the woman split into a myriad of bats, each flying out through the open window before disappearing into the darkness left unlit by the moon’s bright and brilliant light. All while the teacher was left behind, the glow still resonating off his body.

Katsuo opened his eyes, and looked down upon the ring resting on his finger. A ring that was not unlike his wedding ring, though the golden glow made it clear that it was all but an illusion. Wrapped around him, to try and exploit his feelings.

Engraved upon the ring was the name of the one that had helped him. And the one who pushed him to do what he ultimately needed to do.

D’Or.

---

“It’s done. And I damn well hope you’re happy.”

“Of course I am, Byakko. I wouldn’t have come down to see you if I wasn’t.”

Standing within the private office of Byakko, the head of Atlas Corp’s tech division, were two women. The short white kitten herself, and the woman that she had worked with for the last ten years. A woman that now had more authority than her regarding certain matters, restructuring their relationship in the process.

“You can’t say that and not smile, Hiro.” Byakko said, glaring at the white-suited woman looking down at her. She was in one of her foul moods, and it wasn’t hard to see why. The bags underneath her eyes, coupled with the fact she was currently swaying from side to side… Had she gotten any sleep?

Hiro narrowed her eyes a little. “I’d rather not. Not since a certain somebody decided to tell on me and reveal my collection to HER.” Her voice deepened for a moment as her expression went from dull to outright discontent.

“Only because you refused to deal with the last Jõtaijin. Seriously, figurine collecting? You bought EVERY SINGLE ONE?” The short tech lead didn’t hesitate to shoot back, yawning as she stretched in her cute little chair. “Suzaku got an extra fat check due to your reckless spending, I hope you know that.”

The black-and-white haired woman nodded, before slowly reaching into her suit’s pocket. “Very well. I know how to deal with this little disagreement of ours.” She muttered, before placing a single bottle down on the table.

Byakko looked at the bottle, flinching as she saw the thick white liquid bubbling around inside. “...That’s not what I think it is.” She said, slowly looking up to the heroine she worked alongside. “You can’t possibly have-”

“I don’t do half-measures, Byakko. I’m sorry I didn’t show up to work, but you have to stop telling her about my secrets.” Hiro said, as she bowed her head to apologize. “Just make sure she never finds out about THAT.”

The short kitten sighed. The woman drew a hard bargain. No wonder she managed to work her way into Atlas’ graces and end up as his right hand woman. Regardless of how much it wore her out. “Fine. I’ll make sure Qilin doesn’t get to find out about your extra special collection. But it’s going to cost you a few more bottles, I’m not that easy to bribe.”

“Of course not, Byakko.” The taller woman said… As she quietly put down several more bottles, the contents of each looking richer and richer. “But as I said. I don’t do half measures.”

Byakko twitched as she popped off one of the caps keeping the bottles sealed. “How did you find her? I thought she had gone off the radar since the old times.” She muttered, before downing every droplet in one big gulp, her cheeks flushing a bright satisfied red moments after.

“I have my connections.” Hiro said, as she slowly smiled from their mending relationship. “Hope you enjoy it. She’s leaving the country to find a new place to lie low and sell this stuff, so it’s not going to be easy to get more.”

The short kitten quietly melted against her table, the warmth of the richest milk straight from the legendary Minotaur was something she had been craving for a long time. After having tasted it in her youth due to the Monster being kind enough to give her a few droplets, it was like going back to the years before everything got so complicated…

“...Byakko?” The black-and-white-haired woman said as she slowly nudged her short companion. She knew the Minotaur’s milk was like an ambrosia, especially to other Monsters, but this was…

Byakko jolted back to full awareness after being prodded, clearing her throat as she looked up at Hiro. “Right. Apology accepted. Just don’t cock up again, I won’t be able to hide things from Qilin if she starts prying too much.” She said, giving her an ultimatum while slowly moving her hand towards the briefcase laying at the edge of the table.

“Since the last two were Rook and Knight, I guess the Bishop parts are in here?” Hiro said as she slowly put the hand on the briefcase. While doing her best to hide away the utter excitement she felt.

Her shorter coworker nodded, before clearing her throat one more time. “Listen. I’m glad you’re showing great progress with the PAWN System. As well as tying it together with the Saint System and the Promotion System. But…”

“...You want to warn me to be careful, right?” The black-and-white-haired woman preempted her, and the kitten nodded. “Why? Isn’t the way we’ve been dealing with the Jõtaijin a good thing?”

Byakko sighed a little as she clicked a few keys on the digital keyboard in front of her, before a screen appeared behind her, revealing a map of the city, and a strange set of circles covering several areas. Each of them corresponded to where the Jõtaijin incidents had occurred. “It seems that way, but I’m not a fan of these readings. Especially around the school where that girl’s attending.”

Hiro sighed. Of course, Mikai getting more involved had to be a problem. She had been very clear about that, so it wasn’t a surprise that it was biting them in the ass. “So, try to keep Jõtaijin incidents separated, so these incidents don’t cause something. That’s what you’re trying to tell me?”

“Essentially.” The short woman explained as the screen turned off. “We wouldn’t want another Native Awakening. You remember that, don’t you, Hiro?” Byakko’s mildly irritated voice lost all hints of contempt. This wasn’t about her mood. This was something bigger.

Hiro slowly bit her lip. “Right. We’ll do our best to secure the city and find a way to reduce the stress left upon the areas that have had the most Jõtaijin awakenings.” She said, reaching for the briefcase before quietly taking her leave without another word.

Byakko watched her leave as she slowly sank into her chair, grabbing another bottle of Minotaur Milk. “Still blaming yourself for all of that, huh, Hiro..?” She muttered, closing her eyes and letting the warmth wash over her as she downed it all.

It was just five girls, after all. What did that matter, compared to keeping the rest of the world safe..?

---

It was another calm and pleasant day at Mimoto Highschool. Students rushing through the halls at their own pace to get from class to class, and those that didn’t have one booked being free to do whatever they wanted.

One of those students happened to be the unbelievably positive Mikai Fushimi, who strolled through the halls watching plenty of girls and boys casually walking past her in an almost uniform manner. She didn’t pay much mind to it, even if it seemed a bit weird.

‘So, Mikai. Any plans?’

The world around her dimmed slightly as the transparent visage of her mental passenger, the wild-bodied Chimera, casually appeared besides her. Like she was one of her classmates, walking to the same class as her. It downplayed their relationship a bit, but it was a nice gesture nonetheless.

“Mmmm… Maybe a bit of studying?” Mikai said as she stretched a little, yawning. “Teach said a test’s coming up, and Yumeko said she was going to be busy, so… Why not just try and read?” She explained, before a bit of sweat ran down the side of her head. “I mean, I’m not good at reading, but I gotta try, right?”

Chimera nodded, smiling as she patted her on the head. “It’s good to try things you’re not good at. Have you tried asking Tsubasa for help, though? Isn’t he also smart?” The much taller ancient predator asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Nope. Well, he’s very good at thinking about the stuff he’s into, like the Natura and stuff! But, uh, he’s actually kinda bad at keeping his grades up. I hear he had to study hard with Yumeko and Saki-senpai to try and get ready a few months back, so I’m not so sure he’d help.” The sandy-blonde explained as she nervously laughed. Honestly, seeing his conspiracy boards regarding anime theories and the relationships between certain characters in his games was… Overwhelming. So she didn’t think he’d be great at teaching her if this was the way he approached his own passions.

The taller predator nodded. Way too rapidly. “I see. Mmhm. Yes.”

“...You don’t understand a thing, do you, Chimera?”

“Not a thing.”

Mikai and Chimera laughed. Even though the latter had been a great source of support and a voice of wisdom when it mattered, she wasn’t infallible. She was a fish out of water in her own way, after all. Since she had reincarnated inside the girl’s mind, when the last time she walked on Monster’s soil was a good few millennia or so ago…

“Oh, yeah, Chimera?” Mikai said as she looked up at her much bigger companion, before carefully pushing a finger into the predator’s thigh. “I’ve been meaning to ask, buuuut… Did you get fatter?”

Chimera carefully and softly bonked her ‘host’ on her head. “It’s winter fat, Mikai.” She said, before flexing slightly, letting the fat give way to muscle. Not unlike the defined muscles that were engraved upon the girl’s latest form. “It’s because you awoke the power of Ursa, I regained some of my power as a result. And it just so happens that bears need fat to sleep through the winter. Even when they’re inside somebody’s mind.”

“Oh, I just thought you were part fat. Like you became part claw and part wing.” The girl giggled, earning herself another bonk on the head. “I’m joking, I’m joking!” She continued laughing, the bright smile on her face refusing to go away.

The predator shook her head. The girl was a handful. Between her recklessness and her kindness, and the way she had rubbed off on everyone around her… There was always something to enjoy when Mikai was around. “Still, you have to remember that, Mikai. The more you awaken, the more I change. So be careful, alright?”

“I got it.” The sandy-blonde girl said, before pouting slightly. “Though… Now I just kinda want to cuddle you and see how all that feels.” She voiced her mind, huffing. There were some disadvantages to having a mental companion, especially one that could appear in front of her eyes, when she couldn’t truly touch her.

Chimera laughed as she slowly disappeared. “Maybe someday, Mikai! Don’t count it out just yet!” And with that, the world around her regained all its colors, leaving her standing in a hallway close to the library…

That was a benefit of her little pseudo-mental chats with the woman inside her mind. Her body moved on autopilot whenever she wasn’t having a deep conversation with her, which meant that it was easy getting to x or y place and just have a long, fun talk with somebody she looked up to during the trip. Of course, if she got distracted too hard, she’d probably walk into a wall. She had tried that once, and it wasn’t very pleasant. She even got teased by both Yumeko and her mom for the bruise she got.

Ah well. That was then, and now was now. And she had all the time in the world to study before her next class, which was in… An hour? Huh. She thought she had more time. Maybe she should try not spacing out during her walks.

Just as Mikai was about to enter the library through one of the entrances, she noticed a certain pair of girls about to approach the library from the other side. And in a bout of pure curiosity and unbridled energy, the young girl ran towards them.

It wasn’t just a pair as it turned out, as their figures grew more defined. It was two familiar girls, and a certain one sitting in a wheelchair. She should’ve noticed who it was just from the colors of their hair, but she was happy to see them nonetheless.

“Minami! Saeko-senpai! Kokoro!”

Two of the three called upon turned their heads to look towards her. The lavender-haired Saeko Suikumo, and the white-haired Minami Kazumi. The valedictorian, Kokoro Akaijin, didn’t seem to react as she just stopped wheeling Minami’s wheelchair along.

“Mikai? Don’t you have class?” Saeko asked, adjusting her glasses slightly. “I thought that, with all that you’re behind on, you wouldn’t want to miss a class?”

Minami smiled a little as she saw the energetic young girl approaching. Something about that girl made everyone smile so brightly. Even a girl who was stuck with her debilitating problems like herself.

Kokoro kept quiet, adjusting her uniform slightly. And completely neglecting to hide away the latex gloves she wore.

“Nope! There’s no class for me!” Mikai giggled, scratching the back of her head. “It’s because, uh... What was it again?” She paused, closing her eyes to quickly replay what she had been told. “Riiiight. Yeah. Erina-sensei called out sick, so we got a longer break today.”

Saeko sighed. She really had to bring this up to the principal at some point. “I see, that’s… Well, I guess that’s a good thing.” She said. Not that she ever really attended class as a result of her duties, preferring to study on her own. It was nice, calming, and it meant that she didn’t get involved in any incidents.

“What about you three? I get why you’re with Minami, Saeko-senpai, but why’s Kokoro here?” The sandy-blonde tilted her head. Honestly, with how mad people like Agatha and Mina and Rika made her, it kinda seemed weird with how silent she was.

Kokoro slowly looked to Saeko. “She could help, couldn’t she?” She said, slowly looking back towards the girl in front of her. Only slightly making her twitch in the process…

“Ah, yes, you’re right, Akaijin.” The lavender-haired girl said as she smiled. “Say, Mikai, would you mind spending some time with Minami? Kokoro agreed to help before class, and she needs to go prepare. I need to do a few things for Saki too, so, if you don’t mind…”

Minami smiled a little. “Please. It’s fine if you two need to go. I can handle myself, you know.” The white-haired handicapped girl said, slowly looking up towards the two girls that had been such a great help to her.

“Yeah, but it’s more fun with a friend, isn’t it?” Mikai replied, giggling a little. “I’d be happy to spend some time with you, Minami!” Honestly, it gave her an excuse to avoid studying. Which… wasn’t a great thing but Mom said that it was more important to keep a lot of good friends than learn a lot, because you’d probably find a way through life somehow even without school.

Minami giggled back. “I suppose so. Very well. Suikumo, Akaijin, please. You both have much more important things to do.” She said, bowing her head to both of them. She didn’t want to keep them any more than utmost necessary. Especially since they were both such hard-working girls.

Kokoro nodded silently as she departed, barely letting Mikai catch a glimpse of the latex covering her hands, as well as the heel-equipped latex she wore around her feet. ‘Huh, maybe shes getting ready for some weird party?’ The girl thought quietly as she watched her walk away.

“Thanks, Mikai. I’m really happy you’re trying to help.” Saeko smiled from ear to ear as she walked away, breathing a deep sigh of relief as she ran off. She had to make sure to not disappoint Saki…

Mikai smiled as she grabbed the wheelchair by the handles, wheeling the girl into the library. “So, what kind of books do you like, Minami?” She asked a simple question, trying to not look at all the books on display. Or acknowledge how much bigger the library looked on the inside compared to the outside.

“Oh, I love a lot. Why don’t we pick some out?” The white-haired girl said, resting her head on the back of her hands. “Maybe you’ll find a favorite of your own, Mikai. You never know.”

Mikai nodded. She’d help her find every single book, so they could spend that nice hour or so together. As friends do!

---

“How long have you known about what she’s been doing!?”

The loud voice of one Saki Himitsu echoed through the office of Dr. Charlotta, who didn’t seem too plussed about the way she yelled at her. She just continued shuffling through the papers on her desk.

“At this point? About two months or so. It was around the time that Hiro and her clashed for the first time that I learned about Mimoto, but once they fought against one another and then against Shimo’s Jõtaijin form? Well, there was no way for me not to know about her true identity, was there now?” The brunette said as she spun towards her guest, her calm and caring expression contrasting the angry girl’s.

Saki took a deep breath as she slowly pinched the bridge of her nose. Of course, Yuuki knew who she was. She had been one of those Jõtaijin. That made sense. Which meant that, given everyone that had currently been transformed and dealt with… Only a handful of students currently knew about Mikai’s identity as the heroine that had been protecting the school.

...She really wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. If people knew that a girl like her, who had been slacking… No, coasting through life with the inability to act until the moment she woke up, was the one who had saved them? She wasn’t sure if they’d be able to handle it.

If she had been the one to save them. If she had been the one to protect them. Then there wouldn’t be a problem. Of course they’d expect their Student President to think of them. To protect them when it mattered most. Which was what made this entire experience so frustrating. She couldn’t protect them. She couldn’t do anything.

“Then, if you know who she is, couldn’t you figure out how she’s been able to take on that form? Surely she’s not the only one. Surely there has to be a way to turn into something like her, without being corrupted like Yuuki was.” Saki asked, gritting her teeth a little. There had to be a way…

Dr. Charlotta tapped a pen against her chin, gnawing slightly on the butt… “I wouldn’t be able to say for sure. Considering the patients that I’ve had, most of them have twisted into humanoid Monsters, with none of them really ending up just like Mikai has. If I had some time alone with her, maybe I could study what made her transformation stand out so much.”

As the good doctor continued talking, she kicked her desk and used the propulsion to reach a shelf at the wall, one decorated with a lot of books. “Beyond that, she’s kind of an anomaly even then. All of the Jõtaijin have been humans transformed into Monsters by the Jõtai, or existing Monsters turned wild… She’s neither, so…”

She paused for a moment as she reached onto the shelf, grabbing a rather thick looking and worn-down book. ‘Monsters and their Psychology, by Dr. Abraham Ailesworth.’ “I wonder if Ailesworth’s old research has something to tell me…”

“Charlotta-sensei.” Saki cut her train of thought off by slowly pulling forth a suspicious looking bracelet, carefully putting it on the doctor’s desk while her hair framed her face in shadow. “Even if you knew the particulars, wouldn’t you need something like this..?”

The good doctor blinked a couple of times before stuffing the book back on the shelf, wheeling her chair towards the bracelet. Or rather, the Jõtai that the Student President had revealed. “...Saki, you know what this is, right?”

“A Jõtai. The same thing that has been able to ruin the minds of Alyssa Winters, Yuuki Shimo and Azami Mizutani. Among many others.” The blue-haired girl said, her eyes still framed in shadow. “General Spider, one of the individuals that have been distributing these, showed up and gave me one. Expecting me to fall prey, just like they did.”

Charlotta took the Jõtai, closing her eyes a bit. “And what did you tell her?” She asked, examining the bracelet carefully. To think she’d see one of these before they got absorbed into the victim…

“...I refused. But she told me to keep it. Just in case.” Was the reply that came from those wavering lips. “What do you think, Charlotta-sensei?”

The doctor sighed a little as she slowly spun it around on the desk. “I would hate to get you involved in something that you can’t handle, but…” She said, before stopping its rotation. “I admit, I am curious to know what it would take to replicate Mikai’s transformation.”

She turned towards the class president once more, gently tossing the Jõtai up and catching it once more once it fell. “To my knowledge, as well as the knowledge available to Atlas Corp, it’s only happened once prior. That occasion was also the basis for the development of the PAWN System, the device that allows Hiro to transform. So… If I were to give this to Byakko, the technical lead at Atlas Corp, then…”

“...Could I ask you to just investigate on your own, Charlotta-sensei?” Saki asked, as she clenched her fists around her skirt. “If I… If I could get the same sort of powers as Mikai, I don’t want them to be shackled down by anything. I want them to be mine, and mine alone. So I can help the people that need it.”

Dr. Charlotta smiled as she gently tossed the Jõtai to the young school president. “Then keep it, but keep it a secret between you and me.” She said, winking. “I’ll let you know if I find a way to harness it, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Thank you, Charlotta-sensei.” Saki replied, a gentle tear running down her cheek. She needed to hear that. To hear somebody taking her side. Maybe, maybe she really could get the power she needed.

As the two came to an understanding, they both heard a knock on the office door, prompting the blue-haired girl to answer. “Come on in, I won’t occupy Charlotta-sensei’s time for much longer.” She said, quietly hiding the Jõtai in her pocket for the time being.

“O-Oh! Saki!” The near-timid voice of Saeko echoed from behind the door, her figure revealed once she quietly opened it. “I’m surprised to see you here, Saki. What did you need to talk with Charlotta-sensei for?”

Saki narrowed her eyes a little. “You ask me that, knowing what Yuuki has been up to when we’re not looking?” She turned sour for a moment, before clearing her throat. “As Student President, it’s important for me to keep tabs on every student that ends up suffering from any illness. This includes the Pawn Syndrome that many have fallen victim to as a result of the many Jõtaijin attacks.”

“A-Ah. Right. Sorry, Saki.” Saeko muttered as she slowly looked at the floor. “A-Anyway, uh, I did everything you asked for. I-I’m just not sure if anybody’s actually going to want to try and join such a club.”

The Student President shook her head. “It’s important for us, as the student council, to do everything in our power to accomodate for the needs of our fellow students. Even if their hobbies are niche. Besides, with the funds currently being poured into the school as a result of the investigation and protection by Atlas Corp, it only makes sense to use them effectively.”

“Y-Yeah, but… Blacksmithing Club? Really, Saki?” The bespectacled girl said, the sweat pouring down her face. “What kind of student in this day and age actually cares about blacksmithing?”

“I do.” Saki said without missing a beat. “Now, if you excuse me, Saeko.” Saki said, strolling past the girl, though not before patting her on the head. For being a good friend, and excellent companion.

Saeko blushed and sighed as she closed the door behind her, clearing her throat slightly. “Charlotta-sensei, did you need me for anything else?”

Charlotta nodded, having remained patiently quiet throughout that little conversation. “You were with Minami earlier, right, Saeko?” She asked, and the girl nodded in turn.

“Good. Now, about her condition...”

---

“I don’t want to see another book in my life.”

Mikai whined as she laid her head down on the one of the desks that dotted the library, her spirit nearly leaving her body. Honestly, she hadn’t thought it would be this hard to find books. But as it turned out, it really, really was. Why were they in alphabetical order, and why were there so many books that started with the same title?

“You’re going to have to, Mikai. Otherwise, you’re not going to pass your exams.” Minami said, giggling a little as she admired the rather impressive stack that the two had gathered. Or rather, the stack that she had guided the girl to make, while watching her do the difficult task of grabbing the ones on the highest shelf.

The sandy-blonde girl let out a ghastly sigh as she slowly got back up, shaking her body back and forth as she tried to stimulate her muscles. They were aching from carrying such heavy books, especially up and down several steps. “Why did they have to make the bookholder thingies so big…”

“Because otherwise they wouldn’t have space, Mikai.” The white-haired girl calmly replied again, patting her on the back. “But thank you, Mikai. I’m really glad you wanted to help.” She chimed, smiling from ear to ear.

Mikai smiled back as she slowly stretched, letting out a moan as her body audibly popped. “O-Okay, maybe shouldn’t have stretched like that…” She muttered, blushing as she looked at her wheelchair-bound friend. “So, what are all these books about? They don’t look like the kind of books that Katsuo-sensei tells me to bury my face in.”

“Oh, they’re not literature meant for learning.” Minami said as she picked up one of the more ornate looking books, giggling a little as she moved her thumb over the title. ‘Book of Darkness.’ “They’re more meant to be read for enjoyment. They tell a story, not unlike the one we go through in our day-to-day lives.”

“But we’re not in a story.” Mikai bluntly replied, tilting her head slightly.

Minami nodded. “We’re not. But what we go through is like what the characters in the stories go through.” She explained, tapping her finger against the cover of the ornate book. “In this one, the characters have to deal with the fact that their very existence is the cause of their loved ones’ suffering. And they soldier on, to try and solve the problem, even if it means the end of theirs.”

“That’s really sad. Can’t they just find a way to have both? There has to be a way!” Mikai huffed. She didn’t like the stories where the endings weren’t happy. It didn’t feel right for all of that hard work to just go to waste like that…

Her wheelchair-bound friend shook her head. “There isn’t. At least, not with their own power.” She explained, before sighing. “I’m not sure if this one has a happy ending or not, but the last time I read it, I stopped because…” She paused…

“...Because?”

Minami looked from right to left, just to make sure that nobody was looking at them. Honestly, they were the only ones in the library at this point, but she wanted to make sure. “It… It kind of reminded me of the nightmares that I’ve been having, ever since I was really little.”

“Oh. Oh that’s not good at all.” Mikai said, frowning a little. “Why’d you read it if it made you feel bad like that? Aren’t we supposed to like stories because they make us feel happy and satisfied?”

“We don’t read things just because they’re happy, Mikai. We read them because the stories are fun and engaging. Even if that fun comes from seeing the suffering the characters go through. Even if that engagement comes from the way they eventually don’t get what they want.” The wheelchair-bound girl explained, slowly putting the book back on the pile. “But… I really do want to go back to it one day. Even though it reminds me of those nightmares.”

The sandy-blonde girl hummed and puffed. “I don’t get it. Being sad’s not great.” She said, rather simply. Maybe even childishly so. “But, what about those nightmares?”

“Well, since you were nice enough to help me out, I think I can tell you a bit.” Minami said, as she took a deep breath…

And then put her hands over the girl’s eyes, causing her to briefly flail around from the surprisingly strong grip. “H-Hey! What’s the big deal!?” She cried out, unprepared for this assault on her senses. Even if it was just blocking her vision. Even though she could hear Chimera snickering in the back of her mind over how easily she had been ‘disabled’.

“You see that darkness, Mikai? How you can’t see a thing, and you feel like you’re just in an endless sea of nothing but the darkest depths known to man?” Minami said, and the girl slowly nodded. “That. That’s what my nightmares are about. Endless, suffocating darkness. And… I don’t know why.”

Mikai paused as she slowly realized where her friend’s wrists were, and then carefully peeled the hands off her face. “Would you believe me if I told you that’s kind of what I dreamed about for a long time?”

“I would. Because you’re too nice to lie.” Minami said with a smile, before closing her eyes. “How’d you get over it, Mikai? You weren’t always this happy, so… Maybe you could tell me?”

The sandy-blonde girl hummed, before smiling herself. “You just gotta find a light. It’s going to take a long time, and you might drown again, but there’ll be a light. That light’s what’ll help you. That’s what happened to me, anyway.” She explained, before laughing a bit nervously. “Sorry if that’s not very helpful, Minami.”

“It’s the best advice I’ve heard, Mikai.” She said, her smile widening as she opened her eyes. “Thank you. I’ll try and keep that in mind. Do you mind if I call you, if I end up seeing anything in those nightmares?”

“Sure! Hold on, let me-”

Just as Mikai was about to share her number, an alarm went off on her phone… And she realized that she barely had any time to stick around if she wanted to make it to the next class.

“S-Sorry, Minami! I gotta go! Hope you like your books!” And like that, the sandy-blonde sped off. Without even taking the girl with her. Well, she didn’t know her schedule, so she didn’t know where she had to show up.

Minami sighed a little. She’d have to ask her another day then. For now, she had quite a fair amount of books to read…

She blinked as her vision went fuzzy, before biting her lip. Ah… Well, it was a good thing it was happening now, and not when Mikai was around…

The white-haired girl quietly collapsed against the table, as she began to drift off to the deepest sleep...

---

“I’m going to be late I’m going to be late aaaaaa!”

Mikai rapidly muttered to herself as she ran down the halls to try and get to her classroom in good time. She really should’ve spent less time getting to the library and more time on being a helpful friend, that way she wouldn’t be… Okay she’d still be late but at least she would’ve had more time to enjoy her talks with Minami.

‘Hey, hey hey hey hey! Mikai! Eyes open!’

Of course, as a result of her recklessness, she didn’t look straight ahead. Only once she heard Chimera’s voice echo through her mind did she bother trying to see what was coming up, and as a result she started skidding on the smooth floor when she tried to stop on a dime.

And though she was about to crash into a certain individual, their attentiveness and discipline made it easy to grab the girl before she made impact, causing the two to both slide back slightly instead of tumbling onto the ground.

“I thought Yuuki had told you what happens if you run in the halls, Mikai.”

Mikai blinked as she looked up at the taller Student President, the girl she was about to crash into. “A-ahaha… S-Sorry, Saki-senpai.” She muttered sheepishly. While trying not to look her directly in the eye.

Saki shook her head as she dusted the girl off. “I’ll accompany you. Just this once. The teacher will forgive your absence if I vouch for you. And in exchange…”

“In exchange?” The sandy-blonde asked. What would she need her for? Maybe… Well, probably not that. There was no way a girl like Saki, the symbol of discipline and care for her fellow students, would be obsessed with her power.

“...There’s something that’s been bothering me. And seeing you transform, it made me boil over.” The older girl explained as they walked down the hall. “Why do you fight, when you didn’t care about anybody for the longest time?” To somebody like her, Mikai’s presence was a paradox. Something that shouldn’t exist.

“Because they need help.” Mikai didn’t hesitate to answer. An answer like that came to her as naturally as breathing. An answer that she hoped would make Saki stop obsessing about her power. “They’re suffering when they’re transformed. Whether it’s Alyssa, or Yuuki-senpai. Mumei-chan was hurting tons too, when she got transformed. It’s not fair that they don’t get the help that they need.”

The words seemed genuine. Of course they were. A girl like her couldn’t have an ulterior motive. And that’s part of what frustrated Saki so much. Why could she be like this? Why was she able to just coast through life without thinking of the consequences, or even getting weighed down by her responsibility. Nobody looked up to her before, so why was she able to just steal away the hope that was supposed to go to her..?

“Then what if you can’t help them? What if they keep pushing you away? What if they’ll hurt everyone around you, just because you try to show them mercy?” The Student President shot back, her voice remaining as calm and as welcoming as ever. “What then? Will you hurt them, just because they want to hurt others?”

“I’ll find a way. Even if they have to hurt me.” Mikai smiled, throwing her hands behind her head. “I mean… Who’s saying there’s not something good about them? Hiro hated me for trying to help, and now she’s nice!” She paused for a moment, before laughing a bit nervously. “Though, she probably still wants to tell me off for getting in trouble a lot. Especially when Yuuki-senpai and Saeko-senpai got transformed…”

Saki shook her head. “One of these days, you’ll find somebody you can’t get through to that way. You’ll have to find another way to deal with them, even if it hurts you.” She said, as the two came to a stop outside Class 2A’s classroom, the young girl’s destination. “Are you sure you can handle that? The responsibility of being a hero who’ll earn just as much ire as she does adoration?”

“Can’t know until I try.” The sandy-blonde girl shot back, giggling a little. “You know, Saki-senpai… When I first got this power, I just saved people because I thought it was the right thing to do. It’s why I saved Yumeko from Mumei-chan’s Jõtaijin. But… After seeing how Alyssa was able to get through her problems with Agatha, fighting against Bat and Hiro, and when Yuuki-senpai got the better of me…”

Mikai put her hand on her heart. “I just… I just wanted to try and reach out and help people. Not just save them. It’s why I’ve been trying to see the ones I’ve fought! They’re not bad people, not at all. They just need a hand to reach out to them. And I want to be that hand.”

“Do you watch a lot of anime, Mikai?” Saki asked off the cuff, and the girl shook her head, pouting a little in response to the strange question. “You sound like the kind of hero that wouldn’t be out of place in those shows. Whether or not that’s a good thing, I can’t say.”

Mikai grinned. “I’ll take it as a good thing! If I sound like a hero, I gotta be one, right?” So endlessly positive. Never backing down. Not even against somebody that was directly opposed to her way of thinking.

Saki… smiled. Perhaps this was what she was missing. The positive outlook was why the girl was able to grow so quickly. It was something she’d have to discuss with Dr. Charlotta, at least. “Then keep it up. Now, let’s hope that we’re not too late…”

The two opened the door to the younger girl’s classroom...

---

“Mikai? Mikaaaai. Wake up.”

Mikai blinked a couple of times as she snapped back to her senses. Upon looking around, it was clear that she was currently sitting at her desk… But she was just walking into the class. How did she..?

“Finally. I thought you had gotten over your habit of sleeping in class.” Turning around, Mikai saw a face that brought her a great deal of joy and relief. Yumeko’s.

Though, there was something… off about it. Like her eyes not being fully colored in. And the… yeah that was latex on her fingers okay something was definitely wrong.

“Yumeko, are you okay?” Mikai asked, before taking a moment to examine the rest of the class. Maybe she could spot Tsubasa, or maybe even Agatha… But no, all she could see were students she hadn’t really connected with…

And all of them had that same strange layer of latex covering their bodies. Not enough to the point where they looked like pawns, but still definitely weird. Maybe it was some sort of new craze she hadn’t picked up on. Could Yua tell her about it? ...Actually, where was Yua? Wasn’t this her thing?

“I’m doing just fine. If anything, I’m more worried about you, Mikai. You’re not wearing your uniform.” Yumeko’s voice sounded… Off. There was none of the usual sweetness… Just a dull, yet pleasant tone.

“Fushimi.” Kokoro’s voice echoed from the front of the class. “Please be quiet. Maki-sensei will be here soon, and if he finds out that you’re disturbing your fellow students with your ignorance, you will be punished.”

Mikai scratched the back of her head. Ehhh… She didn’t like this. But at the same time, if they were being serious and not controlled or anything, she didn’t want to cause problems. Not for her friends. So she lowered her head…

For about two seconds before she heard a groan in front of her, and noticed that the girl sitting there wasn’t the usual student. In fact, that seat was Tsubasa’s. But instead, Saki was resting her head on that desk.

“My head… Why is it throbbing so hard…” The older student said as she slowly opened her eyes, only to jolt up once she became acutely aware of what was happening around her. And yet she did not raise her voice in concern. Instead, she balled her fists up in anger…

“They’re all turned. Who did this…” She muttered as quietly as she could, her chair almost vibrating as it tried to contain her anger. Somehow, someway, a villain had managed to sneak into the school and convert this many students. There was no mistaking it, they were all pawns. But how? Why?

Mikai watched her senpai, her heart hitting her chest. “Saki-senpai…” This was just like when she saw her transform. Why did this affect her so badly? If… If it was because everyone was turned, then wouldn’t she be happy if she managed to help them all?

“Everyone. Study time is over.” Kokoro’s voice echoed from the front of the class, and every single one of the latex-clad students stopped what they were doing. Which was uniformly taking notes from their assigned textbooks, to make sure they were ready for the exam. “Maki-sensei is arriving. Please be ready to greet him.

Indeed, the door to the class opened to reveal their homeroom teacher, Katsuo Maki. A man who commanded a surprising amount of respect from his students, but never this much dedication. Had he done something to them..?

He didn’t need to give a command, just a silent nod and the students all stood up. Even Mikai and Saki, who were not transformed in any fashion, were forced to stand in response to his influence.

“Good afternoon, Sensei.” Every single student said at the same time, their voices melding together into a mishmash. They were not there to be individuals. They were meant to learn, and that meant casting aside everything.

“Sit down.” Katsuo said, and every single student sat down, except for two. Mikai, and Saki. “Fushimi. Himitsu. What do you think you’re doing?” He asked, a single eyebrow raised.

Mikai nervously fidgeted. “I… I don’t really understand why this is happening, Sensei. Why’s everyone wearing this stuff? Why’re you looking like you don’t care about us? And, uh, why did I just wake up from a nap? I’m pretty sure I was about to be late, not because I overslept or anything.” She asked questions, hoping for a straight answer from the teacher.

Not that she got one. Because Saki wasn’t in the mood. “Maki-sensei. What have you done?” Was the question that came from her, as her eyes started to glare straight into his. The blood in her veins was boiling. Her heart was smashing against her chest from all the rage kept pinned inside. Why would a man as caring as him, who had taught many young students the right path through life, do something like this?

“I’ve made sure that you all have a good life, once you leave my arms.” Katsuo replied with a firm voice. “The key to a good life, the key to succeeding in society, is to follow the orders of those you serve. Whether that’s your teacher, your parents, or your boss. Without these orders, you’ll be led astray. And you’ll get hurt.” He explained. “Now, sit down.” He repeated, his eyes turning a deep gold…

Saki grit her teeth as her eyes started turning golden as well, her body trying to force her to sit down. But she didn’t. And neither did Mikai, who kept her footing much easier than the Student President did.

“...I suppose I’ll have to teach you both a lesson then. Pay attention, Himitsu, Fushimi.” Their teacher said, as he grabbed a piece of chalk from the blackboard. “Akaijin, I need your assistance. Please stand against the blackboard.”

The tall red-headed Valedictorian nodded and followed orders, as the older man walked over to her side before slowly putting his hand on her head. “Today’s lesson is all about the importance of Willpower. I’m sure you’re both well-aware of what it can do to people. Especially you, Himitsu, considering how often you deal with delinquents trying to cause trouble for their peers.”

“Willpower..?” Mikai raised her voice, looking to the other students. Was that what transformed everyone..? Was that what transformed her? Maybe that explained why she managed to push through.

“Willpower flows through us all. It is a manifestation of our desire to impart our influence upon the world. Aimi Sasaki, the leader of the delinquents here at Mimoto Highschool, is a powerhouse in this department. Many of the students that fell under her sway now show utter and absolute loyalty.” Saki explained, her rage barely constrained. “What’s your point, Sensei?”

Katsuo nodded, as he suddenly grabbed Kokoro’s head, practically sinking his fingers into her skull. Seconds later, latex crept down from her head, covering the rest of her face in the same sort of fabric that was covering her body. Leaving nothing but a hopeless Pawn standing there, wearing the Mimoto Highschool uniform.

The transformation was so quick, it was like she had no way to resist. Or rather, she had already been converted. And this was merely returning her to her natural state. Instead of blending in like nothing had ever happened.

“Willpower is what empowers us. and Willpower is how I intend to make sure you all live the life you deserve. One without trouble. One where you can’t end up hurt by your own decisions. All you have to do is just obey and follow orders.” Katsuo said, as he carefully rubbed the domed Valedictorian’s head, her body trembling as she received a just reward for her obedience.

Saki grit her teeth, the golden glow fading from her eyes. “You’re just twisting your students to appease your delusions! You’re not helping them! You’re making everything worse! AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A TEACHER, KATSUO MAKI!?” Her ability to keep calm was compromised. Seeing a man like him, corrupted in the same fashion as her friends… It was the tipping point of it all.

“I call myself a teacher because I am one, Himitsu!” Katsuo shouted back. “It’s because you wander with your head between your legs, and end up hurting yourself, just like my daughter! If I keep my eyes on you and make sure you never end up in danger, then you won’t ever be harmed. You’ll live a happy life!”

“That kind of life is no better than slavery!” The Student President slammed her hands against the table. She couldn’t accept this. She couldn’t! This was not the right way… Why did everyone have to fall prey to this damned thing?!

“And you call death a better alternative, Himitsu!? You would throw away your life on a chance!?” The teacher shouted back, slamming his fist against the blackboard. “Your friends, your family, you want to make them suffer just to pursue your own path?! It’s thoughts like yours that have brought nothing but sorrow to those around them!”

Mikai slammed her hands against the table to cut both of them off. “What makes either of you right?!” She shouted, a single tear running down her cheek. “What makes you both so sure that you’re right?! Why can’t you just talk?!” Seeing them both like this, two people she looked up to… It made her hurt. Why couldn’t it stop?

“It’s for your own good, Mikai. Yours as well, Himitsu.” Katsuo said, as he cleared his throat. “Students. Restrain the troublemakers and bring them up here.”

Every single one of the latex-clad students turned their heads towards the two unconverted girls. Just looking at them, Saki could feel the rage swelling within her. He would turn them all against her… He would turn her friends, her fellow students, AGAINST THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THEM HOPE?!

Mikai struggled as she felt Yumeko putting her hands behind her back, with a grip that was even stronger than she could've expected. “T-They’re not supposed to be this strong! H-Hey, Yumeko, snap out of it!”

“He’s right, Mikai. It’s for your own good.” Yumeko said, her eyes still empty. She had no autonomy. She just followed the orders she had been given.

Even if Mikai transformed now, she wouldn’t be able to get free. Not with Yumeko being the one restraining her. She didn’t want to hurt her, even if she was controlled..!

If only Saki could transform. Then she could bring hope to them all. Instead, they were being turned against their hope. She hated it. She hated it. She hated it. WHY COULDN’T SHE HAVE BEEN THE ONE WITH POWERS?!

“Good. Bring them up h-”

Just as the two girls were about to be captured, the door to the class opened, and a single heel clicked against the floor. Alerting every student, and the teacher, towards the woman’s presence.

Hiro Fukano had arrived. And with a grim look on her face, she held her gaze firmly focused on the teacher. No, the Jõtaijin, that had been detected a little while ago.

“Hiro!” “Fukano-sensei…”

With the girls’ hopes now placed on her shoulders, Hiro crossed her arms. “Katsuo Maki. Stand down. Hand over your Jõtai. And come quietly.” She would give him the courtesy that he deserved. Even if he wouldn’t take it.

“You think you, of all people, have the right to talk like that to me?” Katsuo said, the venom dripping from his lips. “Students. Capture Miss Fukano. NOW!”

The pawned students ignored the two girls that they had been trying to capture, as all of them turned towards the woman that had made her presence known. They weren’t about to disobey a direct order from their teacher, even if some of them thought that it was important to deal with the two troublemakers.

And those stray thoughts were soon proven right, as Saki used this brief opportunity to jump onto the desk she had nearly been pinned against, and leapt over the horde. With violent tears in her eyes, she fled. Because she had no place in this class. Not with Mikai there. Not with Hiro there.

Not when she didn’t have any powers.

Mikai slowly got up as she watched the horde of students approach her partner, gasping a little as she made sure her arms weren’t twisted or anything. “H-Hiro! They’re all pawns! What are we going to do!?”

“I gave him a chance, Mikai.” Hiro replied, as she tapped her fingers against her gauntlet’s screen. “Now, we deal with the problem.”

The girl smiled, leaping onto her desk just like the Student President had done, letting the flames of her will ignite around her.

“Jouchaku.” “HENSHIN!”

The armored parts of the PAWN suit materialized around Hiro as she suddenly grabbed one of the students, only to spin around and use them as a proverbial battering ram to knock the students away and give herself some room to breathe.

Mikai, meanwhile, materialized her armor and leapt towards one of the pawns, hooking her foot underneath their armpit and launching them towards one of the walls. “Sorry! But you gotta sleep for a bit!” She apologized to her classmate for the trouble, just as the lion-themed helmet formed around her head. Mimoto had arrived on the scene!

Katsuo let out a frustrated sigh as he looked at the two heroines. “This is exactly what I was talking about. By going through your own path in life, you hurt others.” He muttered, as he slammed his fist against the blackboard, causing a teacher’s chair to appear beneath him.

“Students.” He said, as each of them stood up straight, awaiting their orders. Even the few that had already been knocked down as a result of the two heroines’ attacks. “Destroy the Jõtaiders. They are the very antithesis to your happy lives.”

In that split second, every single one of the students twitched, and the proper pawn domes formed around their heads. The burst of emotion imparted upon them by their teacher was enough to transform them all at the same time, but… That wasn’t enough.

The domes trembled and twisted, until they took upon a new shape. And at the same time, the latex suits that covered every single student grew thicker, stronger, and more defined. Upon their heads was a horse’s head… They had been promoted. Not unlike PAWN’s own ability to transform.

“Destroy them! DESTROY THEM!” Their teacher shouted, and they obeyed, as each of them reached their hands forth. In their hands, rulers appeared. They were not sharp enough to be swords, nor were they properly thickened to serve as anything but a mild nuisance should they make a blunt impact.. But in the hands of a dedicated student, these Pawns would prove that they were more than a danger...

Mimoto let out a nervous laugh. “Hiiiro? Have you ever seen this before? This is news to me!” She shouted, as she quickly jumped to another desk to avoid getting slashed by the surprisingly sharp ruler, her eyes nearly bulging out of her sockets as she noticed the desk receiving a gruesome cut.

“Huanglong. Record as much footage as you can of these Pawns. Seiryu needs to see this, NOW.” Hiro shouted as she punched straight into one of the Pawns, hoping to knock it down like a normal Pawn…

Unfortunately, these Knight Pawns were much more durable. A punch wasn’t enough to send them down, and they quickly returned the favor, trying to slam their rulers into the heroine.

It was only thanks to PAWN quickly jumping back that she didn’t receive the same sort of gruesome cuts as the other desk had, though the impacts made in the floor weren’t giving her a lot of confidence either.

“You see now? This is what following orders, especially your teacher’s, can do.” Katsuo said, as he clenched his fist. The golden ring wrapped around his ring finger quietly glowing…

Mimoto didn’t bother listening to her teacher, as she jumped from desk to desk. The more she jumped, the less area there was to breathe. But at the same time… If she went all out, there was the danger of running low on power. And since Hiro was having trouble too, there was no way that she could afford that danger.

“Mimoto!” PAWN shouted as she swerved around several slashes, the sweatdrops pouring down her face. “Attack him! Pawns lose their ability to attack if the Jõtaijin is defeated!” She gave her thoughts, all while watching the timer quietly going up on the inside of her display.

Katsuo crossed his arms, as if he was waiting for her to approach. He wasn’t afraid of them. He was confident. Like he had been waiting for this day for years… And to make matters worse, there were plenty of Knight Pawns in the way, each of them armed with another ruler.

“They’re just going to catch me out of the air if I jump! Can’t I-” Mikai blinked underneath her helmet, before she noticed the shattered desks near their feet. “I got it! Hold on!”

Mimoto clenched her fist as the flames that covered her body gave way to a powerful gust of wind. “CHOU HENSHIN!” She shouted, as the wings of Blast Eagle sprouted from her back, shattering her armor and reforming it into the shape of the aerial predator. “Sorry, Sensei!”

With one powerful blast from her wings, the shattered desks went flying towards the teacher. If they just made an impact, maybe she could make him see reason. After all, he hadn’t transformed..!

“Protect me!” Unfortunately, with one order, the Knights changed their focus, slashing the broken desks out of the air and reducing them to nothing. They were a powerful force, compared to the mooks that fell apart when they were given a light tap.

“There!” Hiro shouted as she suddenly bolted forward, using a lesser amount of her power to speed towards the man that had started all of this. “Thunderbol-”

Her attempt at getting in was cut off, as he violently grabbed her head. The sparks on her fists were reduced to nothing as he held her into the air, with the Knight Pawns circling around him to prevent the other heroine from getting anywhere near him.

“Hiro!” Mikai shouted underneath her helmet, though she knew that getting close was practically suicide. And using her wind to try and blow them all back… She’d just waste her energy.

“What were you trying to do, Hiro? Ruin another life? Just like you ruined my daughter’s?” Katsuo said as his grip grew tighter. His fury, his hate, it was all boiling over.

Hiro grit her teeth as she started struggling against his grip… Only for it to slowly stop, as she heard the words leaving his mouth. Even Mikai was surprised, the wings on her armor slowly folding against her back.

“All of this. This entire facade you’ve built. Being a hero? You’re just escaping your own sins!” The older man yelled, as his fingers dug further and further into his head. “But you can still fix it. You can return to life as a student. And from there, relinquish your life and put it in the hands of those you trust.”

Slowly but surely, Hiro’s body was being covered in the same latex material as the other pawns. Because she knew he was right. She had been the one to pull the trigger. And as a result, she saw that girl… That beautiful smile, ruined. Permanently.

He was right. He knew it for so long. And she didn’t hide it. She shouldered the burden of responsibility, and she thought he understood. But it seemed that he hadn’t let go of his grudge. And this was her fate, it seemed. To accept the guilt of her actions and stop running…

“CHOU HENSHIN!”

A bright light shone from the other end of the classroom, bringing both the teacher and his victim’s eyes towards the other heroine. And instead of being a bird, she now took the form of a bear. A violent, thick and powerful bear.

“Hiro’s… Hiro’s not bad!” Mimoto shouted as she started shoveling her way through the Knight Pawns. Pushing them aside. It didn’t matter that they were slamming their rulers into her body. It didn’t matter how much it hurt. It didn’t matter! “Hiro wants the best for people! She’s just not great at telling it!”

“Mikai… stop…” Hiro muttered as the latex continued to cover her. The sweet words of the girl weren’t enough to pull her out of the abyss of guilt.

Katsuo tightened his grip as the ring on his hand started to glow brighter. And from it, the same latex that he had trapped all the students within started to spread. Covering him just like all the other Pawns, with one distinct difference. Instead of a horse’s head or a Pawn’s dome, his head was adorned with a crown. He was, essentially, the King that they all deferred to. “Stand down, Fushimi! Head Teacher COMMANDS IT!” His voice bellowed, the power resonating from deep within.

“I won’t!” Mimoto shouted back, enduring another barrage of attacks from the Knight Pawns. They were growing stronger thanks to their leader… But she wasn’t going down. Not when Hiro was in danger.

One of the Knight Pawns were about to slam the ruler straight down on her head, only for the ursine heroine to grab their wrist so hard that it would’ve crushed their bones if the latex didn’t protect them. And while enduring more strikes from their compatriots, Mimoto began to spin.

“HIRO! YOU’RE BETTER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE!” The girl underneath the armor shouted as she spun, slamming the Knight Pawn into the others. With every rotation, she got faster, and more of them were knocked down.

Using the Pawns to defeat the Pawns… It’s an idea that fit a girl like her perfectly. And once they were all downed, once the damage became too much for Mimoto to handle… She stood tall, her heart beating hard enough for both the Jõtaijin and her partner to hear.

“I don’t know… What you’ve done…” The heroine said, taking step after step towards the teacher. “But… That doesn’t mean you have to give up..! You can still make it better..! Just like you accepted me, even though you hated me! Please! Hiro!”

Hiro trembled, the latex having nearly reached her head at this point. Her will to resist was practically non-existent. “Hmph. You’re wasting your breath, Mikai. She knows what she’s done. For these last few years, she’s been well aware that she’s the one responsible. Let her pay her dues. And then, I’ll make sure you don’t fall down the same path.” Head Teacher said, his grip remaining as firm as ever. The words hadn’t gotten through to him.

“...W-Who… Who do you think you are, Katsuo..?”

The spread of latex stopped. And then it all disappeared, as the light within Hiro’s eyes returned. In that split second, she whipped her legs up and kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to release his grip and letting her jump back in the same graceful move.

“Hiro!”

PAWN took a deep breath as she rubbed her throat. “Thanks, Mikai.” The relief in her voice came from deep within her heart. She could never have been happier to see the girl. This wasn’t the first time she had been saved by her… But she really did need her this time. Otherwise, she would’ve been drowned in her guilt.

“You… You can’t just..!” Head Teacher shouted as he slammed his fist against the blackboard once more. “STUDENTS! ASSEMBLE AND CRUSH THEM! DESTROY THEM AND MAKE THEM DISAPPEAR!” His fury was now completely unleashed. To the point where his crown grew so spiky that even looking at it made you tremble as if you had been poked by it.

All of the Knight Pawns stood back up, none worse for wear despite being smacked around by one of their fellow Pawns. And they were even fiercer, as the rulers turned into proper swords. The furious willpower was improving them by the second.

“Mikai! Give me a minute, and I’ll blast them all away!” Hiro shouted, putting all of her faith in the younger girl. “Huanglong, remote access!”

The white-haired boy serving as her AI briefly appeared before she heard the sound of something flying in the distance. All while the brown-colored ursine heroine stepped in front of her, cracks still in her armor from everything she had endured.

“I’ll give you all the time you need, Hiro!” Mimoto shouted with a bright grin hidden underneath her armor, as every single gash and crack healed at the same time. She wasn’t about to go down, not when all of her partner’s hopes were in her heart.

With the Knight Pawns rapidly approaching, there was no way that she’d be able to defend her partner without tapping into her power. And if she messed up, they were both screwed.

‘Do it, Mikai.’ Chimera’s voice resonated. And pride beamed through. ‘Pay respect to her trust!’

“What do you think I’m doing?!” Mimoto shouted, ignoring the world around her as the ground underneath her started to crack. “MAJOR!” The power reverberated through her form, to the point where it looked like her muscles were bulging through the suit. “CRASH!”

The ursine heroine slammed a single fist into the ground, sending cracks throughout the entire floor. But it wasn’t just random. Her strength wasn’t designed to bring down the floor so they crashed into the floor below. No, it was deliberate.

Every single one of the Knight Pawns found themselves without footing as each fell into two holes. The floor had shattered in such a perfect way that none of them could get close. They were stuck, their legs wobbling and waving all around as they helplessly waved their swords in an attempt to reach towards their target.

“Impossible..! IMPOSSIBLE!” Head Teacher shouted. Even with his guidance, the students had been defeated?! It was… It wasn’t supposed to happen!

“Hiro. Bishop Module arriving in three. Permission to Promote given.”

Huanglong’s voice echoed through the armored heroine’s ears. Just the sound she wanted to hear. “PROMOTION! PAWN TO BISHOP!”

At that moment, three parts flew through the walls, leaving more holes that needed to be repaired later. A chest piece, a helmet, and a full torso. All of which attached to the heroine at the same time, the sound of screws being driven into her body echoing as they sealed themselves shut around her.

The reinforced torso was colored completely white compared to the rest of her suit, while the chest had a big gaping hole with several wires leading to the rest of her body. And the helmet, of course, was shaped after a bishop’s headpiece. Compared to the speed-equipped KNIGHT and the overpowering ROOK, it seemed a little underwhelming.

But then the energy started to charge. From her extremities, into the hole on her chest. “MIKAI! OUT OF THE WAY, NOW!” Hiro shouted, as the BISHOP armor used every little piece of power that she could feed it.

Mimoto, realizing that she was standing straight in front of a giant cannon, wisely decided to jump out of the way before she got caught in the blast radius.

“Get up! GET UP! STUDENTS! LISTEN TO ME!” Head Teacher shouted, but all his commands amounted to was his students turning stiff. Because, as their legs were able to ‘stand’ rigidly, they thought they were actually on their feet.

The energy coalesced in BISHOP’s chest, until the warning signs went off on her visor. And with one final breath, she made her move… “BISHOP BUSTER! CHECKMATE!”

A powerful stream of energy, powerful enough to fill the entire room, blasted straight ahead. Through the students. Through the Jõtaijin. Through the wall itself, blowing it open and revealing the sunlight outside as the beam reached far into the distance. Peeling away the latex on every single one of the infected victims, while completely and utterly destroying the Jõtai that held its sway over the older man…

Mikai watched the beam fire off into the distance, and her eyes lit up. This was what Hiro had hidden up her sleeve?! She really was amazing! From the big shield-sword, to the horse gun, to this?! She had to ask her if she could borrow any of them at some point. But more importantly…

As she looked to her partner, there wasn’t a lick of doubt in her eyes. There was only confidence, and happiness. It was like the beam was a representation of her relief and determination to be better. She was beaming away at the past… And from this point on, she’d start a new life.

Even as it died down, it was clear that it had done a number on everyone. All the students looked like they could use a week’s rest, while the teacher… Well, he looked like he had nearly disintegrated, considering how black and soot-y his body had gotten. If not for the fact that he was still twitching, they might’ve thought he was dead.

“Energy levels low. No Jõtajin signs detected. Well done, Hiro.” Huanglong’s voice echoed through Hiro’s ears as the BISHOP module detached, the parts harmlessly gathering in a neat pile by her feet. They were thoroughly spent and needed a recharge.

Mikai smiled as she walked past the many students that were still stuck in the floor, before kneeling down in front of her thoroughly cooked teacher. “Sensei? Still alive?”

“I wish I wasn’t.” Katsuo sighed as he slowly looked at the ursine girl in front of him. “...I’m not sure if I can forgive myself for what I did there…” He muttered, refusing to look at the woman that had blasted him with all of her determination.

The animal-themed heroine gently bopped him on the stomach, laughing as she reached out with the other hand. “Maybe. But we can work on it, can’t we, Sensei?” Even though he had done all of this, she still gave him a chance. Just like she gave Hiro a chance. Just like she had given everyone else a chance.

His eyes slowly turned towards Hiro, who nodded silently. All while gently bowing, apologizing for her role in everything. Even if she did this, she still held remorse towards her actions… And that made him smile, as he took the girl’s hand.

“Mikai… If you would, could you just… take off that helmet, for a moment?”

The heroine nodded as she took off her armor completely, letting it shatter, briefly revealing a darker-skinned Mikai before that faded as well. A remnant of what gave birth to the form she last used. But it didn’t change what he saw… Namely, the brightest smile since his own daughter’s.

...The same kind of smile that she always gave him, when she tried to convince him that there was still more to life. And thus, Katsuo laughed. “Thank you, Mikai. To think… to think you’d end up like this, in just a few months…” He coughed, his body still aching after it all. “You mind if I just… take a few minutes..?”

“Of course, Sensei. Just rest. Hiro and I’ll take care of the rest. Right, Hiro?” Mikai said, her smile being more than enough to lull the older man to a peaceful sleep. The first in many years.

With that, she stretched a bit and stood back up, giggling as she turned towards her fellow heroine. “That’s another job well done, huh, Hiro?” She said, walking straight towards her. Carefully avoiding every single other student in the way, of course. Better not wake any of them too early.

“BISHOP to KNIGHT.”

Hiro’s expression turned grave for a second as the KNIGHT parts flew in through the same holes made by the BISHOP parts, attaching and giving her access to the same horse-shaped blaster she used just a few weeks ago.

She then pointed it at Mikai. And pulled the trigger.

---

The next thing Mikai saw was the school wall, as she crashed against the rough grass outside. She couldn’t believe it. Hiro had shot her…

Her body was aching, but she could still get up. Even if it hurt. Even if she felt like she should probably stay down. Right now, she wanted answers, as she held her arms out in front of her. “ Henshin..!”

The flames covered her as she transformed back into Mimoto, Flame Lion roaring proud as her assailant appeared in front of her, wielding the same blaster that had inflicted that blow upon her.

“Hiro! What’s the big idea?!” Mikai shouted, staggering forward slightly. “Why? Didn’t we just work together?! What made you shoot me?!” She actually felt hurt after that. Not just because of the pain. But the betrayal was something she hadn’t seen coming.

Hiro just smiled. Not out of malice or anything. “Mikai. Fight me.” Was all that she said, as she raised the Knight Blaster once more, aiming it straight at her head. This time, she wasn’t going to let her off with a simple warning shot.

‘Mikai!’

Chimera’s voice was enough to make sure that the hurting girl could fight, as she quickly slammed her fist into the ground instead of defending herself. Flames shot out from the ground to give her some breathing room, all while the horse-themed heroine disappeared due to her intense speed.

Mimoto panted as she got back on her feet, closing her eyes for a moment… and then gritting her teeth as she felt a blast hitting the back of her head. “Chou Henshin..!”

The flames died down as her armor broke apart like shards of ice, revealing her lupine Frost Wolf form. And as the world around her started to chill, her claws folded over her hands.

She could feel the world chilling. Time itself slowing down due to the way the world froze… And with that extra awareness, she could move.

Her claws slid against the ground as she spun around and delivered a decisive blow to KNIGHT, who had her gun pointed at her head, dashing around her to try and avoid being hit at any kind of position. Instead, it left her own to this kind of blow.

Once the first blow hit, following it up wasn’t hard. Since Hiro had to aim, all that Mimoto had to do was keep the pressure on.

If KNIGHT tried to dash away, Mimoto would follow, and deliver another blow that injured the equine parts that controlled her legs. She wouldn’t get a moment to breathe..!

“Thunderbolt!”

A cloud of smoke flew up as KNIGHT aimed her Blaster down at the ground, shooting until the dirt and grass turned into little more than dirty air around her. And with that air, she could hide. Just for long enough that her ‘partner’ would miss one of her blows.

“Jouchaku Change. KNIGHT to ROOK.”

Mimoto barely dodged the heavier parts that made up Hiro’s alternative form as she dashed back, her breathing growing heavier as she watched the parts attach to the armored heroine and replace the ones that empowered her legs. She traded speed and range for power…

“Try and hit me, Mikai.” ROOK taunted as she beckoned the younger girl to come closer, all while the blade folded underneath her shield flicked forth. She was ready for her to approach. Even if she didn’t have the speed.

The wolf-heroine let out a howl as the upper part of her helmet sunk down, giving her more of a predatory look as the world around her froze even harder. Hiro was going to go all out, it only made sense to give her a taste of the same.

She disappeared as the ground around the other heroine turned to ice, the only way to tell that she was about to strike was the way her claws slashed against the ground.

Which was exactly how Hiro preempted her. She blocked the initial strike with her shield, even as the claws dug deep, and then slashed with the thick blade, delivering a dangerously deep gash to the wolf’s armor.

No matter how many times Mikai tried to get in, Hiro delivered a counter that matched her. Even though her energy was low, she knew exactly how to fight her. From both fighting alongside her, and against her, she had figured out how to counter her completely.

Mikai panted and fell onto her knees as she came to a stop, her claws snapped off from too many failed blows. She could feel the ache from the earlier shot. The adrenaline wasn’t enough…

“If you keep fighting like this.” Hiro said, approaching Mimoto with her blade aimed at her throat. “Then you won’t be able to beat me. And if you can’t beat me, you can’t keep true to what you’ve been saying. You’ll fail. And you won’t be able to save me.” She wasn’t holding back with her comments. Because she knew that this was what the girl needed.

The armored girl grit her teeth as she clenched her fist. “Chou… HENSHIN!”

The winds of determination wrapped around her as she took to the stars, using the distance between the two as an advantage, rather than something to close. After all, she had exhausted her KNIGHT parts, there was no way-

“Jouchaku Change. ROOK to KNIGHT.”

Mikai trembled inside her armor as the Knight Blaster trained on her once more. Even though she had the advantage of being in the air, those shots were dangerously close. If she tried to close the gap, she’d now get a face full of blasts that would knock her out completely.

So she stuck to dodging. Using her air superiority to keep out of the range of the gun. But the longer she spent up there, dodging instead of attacking… The more the blow from earlier poured more and more pain onto her back. How was she supposed to…

...Maybe the idea wasn’t to dodge, nor to get close. But…

“Thunderbolt.”

A pinpoint beam of energy fired at the girl, one that tracked her. The more she’d try to escape, the faster it would get. Even trying to fly higher would just make it chase her up there, leaving her with little options.

“Apex Stream!”

Mimoto flapped her wings as hard as she could, sending a powerful blast of wind straight through the beam, splitting it in two… and causing it to hit her wings in the process. And immediately, she started to spin, careening towards the ground like she was about to crash.

“Is that all you’ve got, Mikai?” Hiro asked, watching the winged heroine with her torn wings descend towards the ground. She lowered her Blaster, letting the steam waft from the barrels.

Only to notice that the girl was spinning way faster than she was supposed to. And it was too late to get out of the way, once the winds wrapped around her.

“APEX CRASH!” Mimoto shouted as she suddenly barreled straight into Hiro. Not to smash her into the ground, no, but to grab her and lift her back up into the air.

The determined winds tore away at the KNIGHT parts, ripping them off the woman’s armor as she was thrown further up, the winds carrying her higher and higher while the winged girl pursued her.

All while Hiro smiled.

Mimoto wrapped her arms around her once more as she changed course once again, spinning faster and faster as they descended towards the ground. The power of her winds sending them smashing into the dirt, with both of them being sent flying away once they made impact.

The girl panted as her wings cracked apart. She could feel her body screaming as she got back up, but she wasn’t about to give up. Not as long as Hiro refused to tell her why they were fighting..!

“Jouchaku Change. KNIGHT to BISHOP.”

The armored heroine still wasn’t finished, as the Bishop Buster started filling with power once again. They had recharged just enough to reattach themselves to her body and drain her system…

“Hiro, you’re…” Mikai trembled as she giggled. “You’re amazing, Hiro!” She shouted, as the armor on her body broke, her body growing darker for a moment as she was exposed to the elements. “CHOU HENSHIN!” Only for those elements, the dirt below her, to swallow her and turn into a thick layer of ursine armor. Earth Ursa was back on the menu!

“Hiro. Are you sure you want to go this far? Hasn’t she earned your-”

Huanglong’s voice was cut off. Hiro didn’t need to hear him right now. Not as she had the girl in her sights. And thus, she popped open her gauntlet, revealing the physical dial that controlled her Saint System.

“SAINT ON- SAINT ON- SAINT ON- SAINT ON- ALL SAINTS ON!”

The energies flowing into the Bishop Buster started glowing four different colors. Red, White, Black and Blue. Fire. Earth. Water. Wind. The powers of the Saint Beasts that all served Atlas Corp, flowing into the artificial heroine..!

“All limiters released! DESPERADO! SAINT BUSTER, FIRE!”

The whirlwind of energy that shot forth from Hiro’s chest was almost as powerful as the beam from earlier. If she still had leftover energy from before, it would be even stronger… But the elemental energies would compensate. If Mikai couldn’t handle this, then..!

“MAJOR CATCH!”

Mimoto stomped her foot into the ground as she braced herself, letting her arms spread far and wide as she took the attack head on. She could feel the pain pouring through her. She could feel all of her partner’s emotions, laid bare in this one strike…

And she shattered the attack with a hug, her body trembling and cracking as the armor struggled to contain all of the energies that had poured into her. All while she slowly walked towards the other heroine…

“Here, Hiro..! Your feelings! Your emotions! I’ll give them all back to you!” The girl, who was burdened by the attack she took, held her hands forth again and called out one final time. “CHOU HENSHIN!”

“Jouchaku Change! BISHOP TO PAWN!”

Both combatants were spent. Hiro had used everything she had, with all of her modules completely and utterly drained. Even the Saint System had run out of juice. And Mikai? Her body was on the verge of breaking down, both due to the damage and the energy she had taken in.

And yet still, both stood tall. Hiro in her original PAWN suit, and Mikai in her Flame Lion form. They weren’t done. Not until the other fell. Not until they had finally come to terms.

They ran at one another. Their bodies screaming with every step they took. Even as they both leapt into the air, and let their wills guide them.

“KING’S FLAME!” “CHECKMATE!”

The sparks of their wills clashing zapped against the ground. Their feet were smashing against each other, trying to push one to defeat the other. But they couldn’t let up. Not until the other gave up. Not until they knew the other understood how they felt…

Their armors cracked. But their spirits survived. Their wills were left intact, as the energies in their bodies exploded…

And they both fell ontop of one another, truly and utterly spent. Not a single spark of energy remained inside them. They were unable to fight for another second…

Which was when they both began laughing, even as their bodies ached. Even after everything they had done. It was just the way that those two had an important talk, the way that they had to come to terms with one another.

“Hiro…” Mikai said, slowly looking up at the woman laying across her stomach. “Why’d you shoot me? Mind telling me now, before you crush me with how heavy you are?”

“Speak for yourself. You’re probably just as heavy.” Hiro shot back, as she slowly closed her eyes. The pain was nothing at this point, as she slowly sighed. “...Katsuo was right. I’m the reason his daughter ended up a Monster. Not just a Monster either, something… Much worse.”

Mikai stayed silent as she listened, watching the older woman with a curious eye.

“...We call it the Native Awakening. Because of what happened ten years ago, we needed a way to fight back should things ever get bad. Whether against Golden Freedom, or things worse than what they could make. And… In the process…” Hiro paused, closing her eyes as she heard the chilling laughter run through her mind. “Five of my subordinates, who volunteered to see the project succeed, ended up being consumed by the prototypes. All because they wanted to help. All because of me.”

“...And?”

“And? That’s all you say? I was the reason why they ended up turning, Mikai! You can’t just say and!” Hiro shouted at the younger girl, pinching her cheeks before tugging them out. “I caused Katsuo, and others like him, untold grief for what I did!”

Mikai whined a little fromm the pinching, squirming as her cheeks were pulled apart. “J-Just because you did that stuff doesn’t mean you’re bad! And you feel bad about it! So we just gotta figure out a way to fix them! Then Sensei’ll be happy again!”

Hiro let go of the girl’s cheeks, slowly letting her head collapse against the ground. “You are so, unfathomably, hopelessly naive…” The older woman said, before brushing a bit of her hair out of the way… “But I’m glad you are, Mikai. You’re the light I need.”

“Ehehehe… I’m glad, Hiro.” The younger girl smiled, before wincing. “S-So, uh… How do we deal with all this pain..?”

“Huanglong’ll get ahold of Dr. Charlotta. After that… Who knows. Just close your eyes for now.” Hiro said, closing her eyes as she let the warm winds wash over her.

Mikai nodded… before narrowing her eyes a little as Hiro started snoring. “You could’ve at least rolled off me before you started sleeping, Hirooo…”

Oh well. At least the two were happy. And now… It was time to just sleep the pain away…

Then, it’d be time to try and figure out what to do to save those friends of hers…

---

Later that night. In the depths of Mimoto City, where the scum and villainy of the entire city gathered…

The three members of Golden Freedom stood within their small cozy hideout, with Cobra quietly playing with Spider’s hair and Bat reading some of her favorite literature…

“What’s taking Lady D’Or so long, anyway?” Spider asked, trying to keep her lavender-colored hair out of the way of the annoying twink’s fingers. “You said she was busy with something, but you didn’t elaborate, Bat!”

Bat turned the page, smiling softly. “You know her, Spider. What our dear Lady wants, she’ll get. Even without our knowledge.” She said, a blush covering her cheeks. “Ah yes, this is where I left off… On the passionate love…”

“I bet she’s trying to sell a Jõtai. Have you seen what she’s been able to do with them, when they’re not active?” Cobra said, lightly slapping the General on the cheeks and giggling once she tried to grab a tuft of his hair only for his near-serpentine body to slither around her attempts to grab him.

Bat shook her head. “She wouldn’t do that. She’s been very careful regarding the Jõtai, considering the potential they all have. And the dangers they possess, should they be misused.” She said, closing the book. “I’ll have to leave that for later tonight…”

“Can she just get here already though!? Cobra’s driving me bats!” Spider shouted as she finally managed to catch the snake twink, tossing his bodysuit-clad self at his own chair to get him to stop bothering her.

Cobra laughed as he flew through the air, casually landing on his side before posing for the ladies, winking towards them. “You’re not getting a taste of this, just letting you both know.”

Spider rolled her eyes, and Bat just chuckled in response to his flirting. They were quite the trio, especially considering what they did from day to day.

Finally, the door opened, and all of them sat up straight, bowing their heads as the brown-haired leader of Golden Freedom entered the hideout.

“I see you’re all keeping lively while I work.” D’Or chimed, as she stepped further inside. “How’s the current Jõtaijin rate looking, Bat? Any more we still need to free, before we hit a speedbump?”

Bat shook her head. “We should be good to go at this pace. One or two a week, and we won’t arouse suspicion. Not more than we already have, anyway.” She said, before resting her head on the back of her hands. “That being said, Lady D’Or… You had given a Jõtai to one of the faculty members at that girl’s school. A brand new type. Am I to assume that..?”

“My, you went to him after I had my chat?” D’Or giggled, before quietly thrusting forth her hand. Revealing three rings, each on their own fingers, each adorned with a different engraving. “I was just experimenting with the newest model of Jõtai. Something that should put a stop to the Jõtaiders getting in our way…”

The rings flew off her fingers, and into the respective member’s hands. With this, they should be able to give greater freedom to those that needed it. And if they were lucky, they could finally get rid of the two heroines…

“Oh. Yes.” D’Or said, as she turned towards the open door. “Don’t be shy. We won’t bite. Not after you’ve come here, of your own free will.”

The three members looked towards the door as a tall, stalwart girl walked in. Cobra frowned. Bat smiled. And Spider avoided looking at the new arrival.

D’Or gently tipped her hat towards the girl, and said those ever-fateful words that would bind her to their service.

“Welcome, to Golden Freedom.”