Game of Monsters - 212

You Hold on to What You Believe In

Surprisingly, the days passed without really increasing Joshua’s fear and nerves through the latter days of the month he had to work with.

Sure, he was afraid and nervous, but he didn’t get more so as time went by and the approximate time for Ophis to come knocking drew closer. He’d expected to grow more of a mess with every passing day, maybe every passing hour. He’d thought dread would dominate his every waking hour and likely every sleeping one too, through nightmares.

Instead, he found himself… surprisingly stable.

His approach to get information was working though. His guesses about the physical, mental and soul aspects of the Gap’s effect were showing that they weren’t baseless. The mental side of things was still the most troublesome, but he did have some things to show on that side too. Soul-wise, it was tricky too, but he’d managed a slow and steady progress that he was… reluctantly happy with. Physically, he was still trying to push things, but that was getting harder and harder with every added layer on the spell arrays, admittedly.

Joshua was getting things done though, and every single spell circle that he worked out, every addition or change that he made, all of it contributed to lessening the burden at the same time that it was supposed to increase. So, in the end, he guessed he remained around even levels of stress those days, which didn’t sound great, but it certainly was in his books. With all that was going on, he’d take remaining in the same spot he already was instead of spiralling into worry and panic.

“What do you think?” Serafall asked, leaning left and right like an inverted pendulum. He looked up ahead of them both, watching Jeanne training with Yuto while the rest of the Gremory group did their thing around the place with other people, like Koneko with Kuroka and so on. Idly, he twirled the pencil in his hand and tapped it against the page of his notebook. “You don’t seem very worried,” she added and he almost laughed.

What were the chances that she commented on the same thing he’d just been thinking about?

Actually, they were probably not that low. Serafall – and Yasaka and Gabriel too, for that matter – usually read him like a book, so it was no stretch of the imagination for her to pick up on his thoughts. If anything, he’d have been more surprised if she tried something like that and somehow got it wrong.

Not that he was likely to figure it out if it happened, but still.

“If I fail, I’ll know that I did my best,” he replied, but the smile that spread on his face was not at all happy or even content. “I really, really don’t want that, of course, but I’m getting things done. I’m not stuck anymore. I’m finding out new info, I’m applying it, and it all seems to be… at least somewhat accurate and effective,” he explained before running his fingers through his hair and sighing.

“Do you think it’s enough?” Serafall asked and he realized only then that while her body moved around childishly as usual, her tone was not playful at all. It was the serious version of his partner that he was talking to at that moment. Not as admittedly sort of funny and adorable as the magical girl, but that Serafall had her own charm too.

“I don’t wanna jinx things.” ‘But yes,’ went unsaid there. Because he did think what he was getting done was enough. Surely he’d achieved more for Ophis’ Silence than Khaos. Their attempts were, as far as he was concerned, only in regards to helping her fight off Great Red. Considering the nigh impossibility of that, Joshua was reasonably sure that he was closer to making a Gap alternative for Ophis than they were of winning against the Dragon of Dragons.

He could be wrong on several accounts, of course. Chief of which was the chance that maybe Khaos was also taking a similar approach to his, but he thought that unlikely. And even if they had, with him – and his alliance, of course – dismantling the Magician Faction and crippling the Hero Faction, he thought progress was likely not great for them. Besides, not to toot his own horn, but Joshua was always told how he was the best spellcrafter in the world. There was only so much of that he could hear before starting to believe it at least a little.

Serafall, beside him, hummed, but he thought he caught a hint of truth in her smile.

“I guess we’ll see how it goes,” the Satan commented, swaying more towards him at that moment and resting her head on his shoulder. “We believe in you though, Joshua. You know that, right?”

“Yes,” he confirmed simply with a nod. “And I appreciate it,” he added, a slight smile pulling at his lips. He really did appreciate it. It didn’t feel like added pressure anymore, unlike when he’d gotten started and had no idea what he was doing. He actually felt like he was worth that faith they all had in him, if only the smallest bit. And so, the words reassured him that no, he might not be imagining that. He might actually be good enough, do enough.

“Everyone’s busy,” Serafall commented and Joshua noticed a shift in her voice that he couldn’t quite place. It sounded like she’d relaxed a little, there was a more positive note to it or so he guessed. “How about taking a break and going somewhere? I could use a snack or two that you don’t have to work for,” the Satan commented and he nodded.

“Lilith?” he asked, referring to the current capital of the devils’ Underworld. It was where they went for dates and such, generally. “We can do that, yeah,” he answered when she nodded and he smiled as she wrapped his arm with hers. “Are we going overtly or incognito?”

“Do you mind if we show off a little?”

“Not at all,” he said, lying through his teeth and she likely knew it. She liked showing off though and after his reputation had risen as much as it had, it helped her with her job to be seeing publicly with him. So, Joshua didn’t mind suffering some stares in order to make her happy.

“Thank you,” she told him, squeezing his arm, and if he’d had any doubts on the matter, they’d been cleared then.

[}-o-{]

[Kunou Davis]

“Dad, I’m flying!”

“I’m making you fly, remember?” her dad answered with and she could tell that he was smiling, even though he was still looking at the notebook in front of him. “You don’t actually need to make swim motions to move around, you know?” he asked then and her hands froze on each side of her, where she’d been doing a very poor impression of a breaststroke trying to reach one of the walls.

“I don’t?” she asked, before hearing a chuckle leaving the man. “You didn’t tell me that!”

“I didn’t,” he admitted, the absolute traitor that he was. “It was adorable to watch you do that. Maybe I should have kept that to myself,” her dad commented and this time he did look up at her. She hadn’t expected that, which was why she hadn’t quite fixed her position. She tried her best to snap into a more dignified position immediately all the same though and she was even optimistic about her chances of not having been- “You know I don’t actually have to look up to see you, right? I can sense you,” he pointed out.

Kunou wasn’t pouting and anyone that said otherwise was a lying liar who lied lyingly.

“You’re adorable,” Joshua- her dad said – it was one of those days in which calling him Joshua felt wrong, distant, cold – with a shake of his head. “How’s the flying, fun?” he asked with that smile that made her feel all sorts of happy and warm, like he was wrapping her up with a blanket and giving her a cup of her favorite tea.

It made all the time she had spent without having Joshua, having a dad, all the colder, really.

How had she done it all those years?

She didn’t know, but she also didn’t care to. All that mattered was that she wasn’t sad anymore and her mother wasn’t cold anymore. They were a happy family again and Joshua was her dad and Serafall and Gabriel were her aunts-but-not-really and it was all awesome.

Sure, things were a little tense at the moment, although nobody would tell her why. Joshua had to work on something extra-super-important too, so he didn’t have much time. Furthermore, Kunou had been told – and she expected it too – that her dad would get busier as the days passed and his deadline drew closer.

She was surprised to see that hadn’t been the case, or at least not much. He was still busy, of course, but her dad still made time for her, like at that moment, even though there was only about a week left. He still played and cooked and did other stuff that wasn’t related to his project. He’d even made some extra time when she’d joined forces with Koneko and Ravel – necessary evils those two… but only sometimes – in order to convince him to host a card mini-tournament.

They’d had to invite Millicas, but that was also a necessary evil and he wasn’t too bad, for a boy.

“Lots,” she replied simply, but happily, as she tried to fly without any motions. It was more difficult, but she eventually got the gist of it. It was a bit of visualization and a bit of intent. Admittedly, her first attempts still involved some twitching – not always voluntary –, but Kunou did get the hang of it eventually… even if her flying was also a little twitchy.

“Do tell me if there’s anything odd about the flying,” her dad commented, watching her move around under the help of his spells. She could also feel Friday watching intently, as if the spell had her non-existent face right up hers trying to figure out things about their attempt at a flying space array.

“I think I just need to… get the hang of it,” Kunou replied with a frown as a particularly sharp movement made her spiral in place instead of turning like she’d wanted to. “Changing directions is harder,” she mumbled, but she thought it might just be her.

“Actually, was it that much easier to just swim?” her dad asked, tilting his head as he looked at her. “Maybe I can make it so that it’ll only respond to motions instead of intent. It’ll be limiting, but if it’s more intuitive…”

“It could be more fun too!” she commented, switching back to swimming and this time she did so without even a little bit of shame. It was more fun, she found. “Maybe we can play games like this!”

“You could make one with illusions,” her dad pointed out and she perked up mid-air where she was. “Maybe a flying course or something like that, with rings to go through and obstacles.”

“And stuff attacking us, like birds or traps!” she suggested as a follow up, ideas on how she could make all of those things with illusions already in her mind. Rings would be easy, but maybe she could add a little flair to it and make them change colors when they went through them and stuff like that. She was sure her dad would help her with that… Once he was finished with his thing, that is. But she could leave those ideas for later and focus on the ones she could work with herself.

“You could ask Koneko and Ravel for ideas too, even Millicas,” her dad suggested and she stumbled mid-air. “They might have more ideas for it too.”

“Do I have to?” she mumbled, a pout she didn’t want to show appearing on her face. And of course her dad chose that moment to turn away from his notes again and give her a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t be mean, Kunou. They’ll play with this too; they should get a say.”

“Fine.”

[}-o-{]

[George Pickingill]

Levi was doing a great job taking over Professor Davis’ class, all things considered.

All things considered being that he used to be a student – if admittedly one theoretically gifted –, that he’d been kind of thrown off the deep end even if Professor Davis had hinted at such development happening and also the fact that-

“Yes, but how do I make that change to the circle?”

-there were assholes in the class.

That was not new, not at all. There’d been idiots raising their hands, asking their mocking questions and being generally a pain in the side even when Professor Davis taught them. It was a class, after all, that rubbed people the wrong way. People from established, rich families couldn’t get ahead with all their money and power and the class gave everyone the same amount of power, meaning that they couldn’t look down on other people anymore. Masters didn’t like it either, because it diminished accomplishments of their own, or mocked them for not achieving spell modifications to reach their masteries. Other associations were also not quite happy with House of Water holding a monopoly on the only teacher that could give the class.

Those and a number of other reasons meant that there’d always be magicians that sneered at the mention of the class and anyone that taught it, even if said magicians were trying to benefit from both all the same.

“I’m not here to do the job for you, but I can help you find the ideas and the approaches,” Levi said, and he was getting better at shrugging off attempts to destabilize him. At least, he’d stopped flinching, or twitching or stammering whenever someone asked a question in general. The Stars considered that a huge victory already, but Levi had come that day determined to stand his ground, by the looks of it.

George was so proud.

“If you can’t help the guy, then what good are you?” another person asked a few desks away from the one that’d asked the first question. George felt his hands curl into fists, listening to the growing whispers. They were unintelligible, but they nevertheless shifted the atmosphere. Suddenly, he could almost see the shadows pointing sharply towards Levi, waiting for him to fail so that they could stab him… metaphorically speaking, that is.

“I’m here to teach you how to do this in a way that can be applied to every branch of magic.” Goddamn, maybe Levi had done really well the previous day on a job or something? Had he woken up feeling like a million bucks for no reason? Something had to have happened. “If you can’t apply Professor Davis’ and my teachings to your branch, then you either don’t know your magic as much as you should, you’re not studying, or you’re not paying enough attention in class.”

George turned and traded a look with Karin by his side.

“I see,” the first guy said, but he was not cowered at all. No, he seemed to draw himself up, as if trying to be taller. “So, what you’re saying is that you can’t help me, can’t teach me,” he continued then and George didn’t know what he was going to say, but he knew he wasn’t going to like it. “I’m sure my association will love to hear that, Ellie.”

Ellie.

Not Professor – although his fellow Star never really enforced that – nor Levi.

Not even Eliphas.

Ellie.

‘That’s it,’ George decided then, slapping his hand on his desk and cutting through the moment before Levi could crumble. Maybe he wouldn’t have, but that wasn’t an excuse to just sit there and do nothing. So, he took a deep breath in, his respect for his fellow Star rising as everyone turned their attention to him and he felt what he felt every time he had to teach. He needed to keep it together though. Levi needed him. Professor Davis, however indirectly, needed him.

“Meredith,” he said, low enough that barely anyone other than the woman could hear him. At most, the other Stars would have, and that was fine. “I need you to have my back,” he added before turning and standing up from his desk. To his immense relief, the redhead followed after him barely even a second afterwards.

It was great to have allies, colleagues, friends.

He hadn’t had those before, but now?

“Something the matter, Gillpicker?”

“It’s Pickingill, actually,” he corrected as he walked towards the offending idiot, keeping his expression calm. That’s what Davis always did. Keep his calm and let them look like idiots. They were the ones with the power, after all. “But it’s understandable that you don’t remember. You don’t remember a lot of things, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, considering you can’t remember the material taught to you and all,” George answered and he saw the man blush in embarrassment. He could almost see his mental, shadowy representation of the whispers turning from Levi to the idiot. “Nor do you remember what happened to idiots, evidently.”

“Do you think just because Davis favors you that you can do whatever you want? Say whatever you want?” the man asked, eyes narrowed and anger clear in his expression. “He’s not here, idiot,” he continued, very proud of throwing George’s insult back at him. “And I’m-”

“Someone that’s going to be kicked out of the class if he doesn’t shut up,” Meredith said before George could. He’d been waiting for him to finish digging his grave, but his fellow Star hadn’t been that patient, evidently. “Because believe you me, we can take you up to Agnes Waterhouse and have you sent back to whatever Association you came from or kicked out of House of Water if you’re from here. Professor Davis will favor us, after all.”

“You-”

“Won’t he, Miss Phenex?” George interrupted this time, not even turning to look at the blonde devil across the room, sitting at her tiny desk beside Levi’s. She never said much, but she was always there, to be Professor Davis’ eyes and ears.

“He will,” he heard her say and he tried not to grin too much at the paling of the idiot’s face.

He failed, but then again, Meredith failed too.

[}-o-{]

[Joshua Davis]

Project Silence: Extraction.

That was one headache and a half and, since he was running out of time, Joshua decided to push it to the side. He didn’t have enough time to make the necessary progress for it to be viable at all. He just wouldn’t have anything solid to present to Ophis, not even something half-done like what he’d set up before with other projects just to cover himself.

He hadn’t made much progress trying to push the still theoretical void element around, after all. Joshua wasn’t sure if it was a thing at all. He grew increasingly convinced that it was not, indeed, something that existed, to be perfectly honest. Even then though, he hadn’t gotten solid proof that it wasn’t real either, so that’s why he hadn’t scrapped the project altogether.

Maybe he’d try again if he survived the first deadline by Ophis and he got more time.

Project Silence: Bubble.

That one was more solid, but he was a little nervous about it, he’d admit. Not because it didn’t work, but because he didn’t know how well it worked and if it didn’t work well enough, it could be disastrous. The reason why the Gap didn’t work for Ophis anymore was because of Great Red, at the end of the day. The problem with Bubble was, thus, that Joshua wasn’t sure he could isolate a portion of the Gap from Great Red. Hell, he didn’t know if he could isolate it from Ophis from the inside.

So, he didn’t want to inadvertently piss off either of them.

With that in mind, Bubble was pushed to the last viable slot. If all else failed, he’d try that one out as a last resort. Joshua really hoped it wouldn’t come to that though, because he was reasonably sure that it was his worst working option. It couldn’t even be considered a gamble, not really. It was an unrealistic wish, if anything.

Project Silence: Room and Project Silence: Copy.

Now those? Those were the ones Joshua was banking everything on. Those were the ones that made solid progress. He had a foundation going, he was building upon that. It all looked good, on paper and in his mind. If those two failed, he’d basically lose all hope and just pray to some ROB to the best of his ability. It sounded bad in his head, but the situation was that fucked, really.

Still, he was confident in those.

They weren’t perfect, but he thought there was a good chance of at least one of them being at least good enough to buy him more time. That was what he was shooting for, after all. He wasn’t trying to succeed, he was trying to earn more time. There was just no way he’d recreate the fucking Dimensional Gap in a single month.

So, what he had would have to do.

And if it didn’t…

He wouldn’t think about that.

“Everything is stable?” Gabriel asked and he turned to look at her. “Nothing blew up and the room didn’t become a pyramid.”

“That happened once,” he replied with a twitching eye. “And I’m still convinced that it was the Egyptians messing with me,” he added and he was further convinced of this fact because the deities were suspiciously silent at that moment. “I just can’t prove it.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” the angel said and he mock-glared at her placid smile. “What?”

“You’re very mean for an angel,” Joshua answered, rolling his eyes and running his fingers through his hair. “Ok, I think that’s all. Friday, can you keep an eye on this for a bit? You can spend time with your sisters while at it, yes,” he said then, answering the living spell’s question before she could ask it. Then he turned towards Cheshire, who was standing in front of the rest of his familiars, as if she were a representative. “Keep an eye on everyone and make sure Nagini doesn’t eat anyone important,” he told his feline familiar, getting a huff from the serpent.

As if he’d trust her to learn her lesson. She’d already tried to do exactly that, twice. Georg couldn’t be left alone in a room with the serpent anymore and the East Youkai Faction was throwing a small tantrum after what happened to their representative during his last visit. Joshua was not in the mood to deal with that kind of nonsense with everything else that was going on. He’d rather not have to deal with Youkai politics and Yasaka would be very cross with him if he made her do it – again – when it was, technically, his responsibility.

So, he just brought up two fingers to his eyes and then pointed them at the snake.

“I will put you in time out during training,” he threatened and he could have sworn the gigantic basilisk was pouting. Served her right though. “Be good, yeah? And don’t let Friday just sit out,” he told Morag as he walked past them, patting the human-spider hybrid on the head. “She needs to socialize more.”

“Yes, daddy!” Morag replied enthusiastically, even while the living spell took her turn to pout at him. Metaphorically speaking, that is. “Have fun with Gabby!”

“Thanks, Morag. You have fun with your sisters,” he said with a smile that only became wider when he saw that Gabriel seemed to like the Jorogumo’s nickname for her. “Sorry for the delay,” he commented once they both moved away a little. Not that he was actually sorry, but it was more of a polite thing to do. He had kept her waiting until he was done with his familiars/daughters.

He was still processing that, to be honest.

“Nothing to worry about,” the angel reassured him with a beaming smile. “They are adorable.”

“Even Nagini?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Even her,” Gabriel confirmed with a nod and he pondered that. Not that he disagreed, not at all, but he knew what Nagini was like and what she looked like. Adorable wasn’t a word many people would use for her and he knew it. Another thing to love about his angelic – literally, which he found kind of funny – partner. “Now, where are you taking me this time?” she asked and he grinned at her.

“You’ll love it. Not a lot of architecture, but there’s plenty of history and culture to go around,” he told her as the teleportation circles started activating.

[} Chapter End {]

Hey guys! How’s it going?

I was going to call this chapter a brief moment of relief during this very tension-filled arc… but is it really? I feel like, at most, it mimics Joshua’s state of balance between confidence and nerves. Which, really, isn’t bad at all, just not what I got as my first impression of this chapter, or what I think I was going for.

If anything, however, I think this is even better. Yet again unintentionally getting something good, I guess. Kudos to me.

Anyway, I hope you agree with me and enjoyed the chapter.

Discord Link: discord.gg/UTDransjJZ

Random Question: Which of the Silence projects do you like most? It can be the one that you think will end in success first (or at all) or it can be the one that you find more interesting or any other way to look at the question, really.

See you.