The next day, the Valliere sisters went back to the workshop to see Louise 2 next to the stand while Bench circled her, shooting blue beams of light in specific places. Hearing the doors to the workshop open. Louise looked up and locked eyes with her sisters.
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Louise 2: "Cattleya! Eleonore!"
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The two big sisters tried to approach her but were suddenly blocked by none other then Bench.
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Bench: "While this whole reunion is nice and all I'd like some evaluations before you do what you want to do, alright?"
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Eleonore frowned but receded and backed off meanwhile Cattleya smiled and followed suit. Bench told Louise to do some stretches and to tell him if there were some discomforts on her body. Louise complied and started with a simple split.
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Bench: "Are there any discomforts?"
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Louise 2: "There aren't any at the legs I think."
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Bench: "Alright, raise your entire left leg to the point where your foot is within eye level."
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She went back to standing up then she followed his instruction. Again she asked the same question and her response was still the same, similarly with the right leg. Louise then fell backward with her back arcing upward while her feet and hands were on the ground.
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Bench: "Back discomforts?"
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Louise closed her eyes and tried to focus in on any discomfort but nothing came to mind, telling the same answer to Bench. Louise moved on to the next position.
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Cattleya: "What are you doing Louise 2?"
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Louise 2: “Louise 2? Is that my new name…”
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Cattleya: “Well…we don’t know what else to call you.”
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Louise 2: “….I understand, I’m not normal like my other half.”
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Cattleya: “That’s not-”
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Louise 2: "I'm doing some exercises and trying to find out if there is something uncomfortable so Bench could fix it immediately."
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She said while spreading her body and making her right arm touch her left foot. All the while ignoring the concerned looks from her sisters.
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Eleonore: "Why do you have to do these tests? Shouldn't you know if there are any discomforts immediately?"
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Bench: "While she may have full control of her body, you need to remember that Louise isn't a flesh-skin anymore. She doesn’t have the same receptors that flesh-skins like you would have. For instance, you would know if there is some discomfort immediately when you sit in an irregular way. For Louise, these discomforts wouldn't matter since it isn't really that prominent. The only time she would feel uncomfortable is when she put her bodies under a lot of stress. To make matters worse, she has functions that makes it harder for her to reach the required stress."
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Cattleya: "What…exactly is Louise now?"
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Louise 2: "I’m a cyborg. Cyborgs are people who have physical abilities that are superior to normal humans. Like super strength, speed, reflexes and many more with the use of special devices planted inside the body."
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Eleonore: "You mean to tell us that there is something in your body that makes you stronger, faster and wittier than the knights of Tristain?"
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Louise 2: "To put it bluntly, yeah…pretty much,"
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Eleonore: "Somehow I doubt that."
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Louise 2: “Did you not hear what happened with the Ravager?”
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Eleonore: “I did but I find it hard to believe a golem, a simple dumb magical construct that only follows what its master tells it to do, needed multiple mages and two dragons to take down.”
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Louise 2: “Well, it did. It could have been much worse if I didn’t do what I did. Seriously, comparing a Ravager and a golem is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard from you.”
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Eleonore flinched at the sudden cold hostility, Cattleya showed her surprise by placing a hand on her mouth. Finally recovering after Louise's words, Eleonore glowered at her.
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Eleonore: "Don't take that tone with me Louise. I am still your big sister!"
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Louise 2: “If you don’t like how I am, how about you go find my other half! I’m sure she would appreciate you talking down to her.”
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Before the two can come to blows, Bench got between the two estranged sisters.
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Bench: “Enough. Louise, you still have some more tests to complete. As for you two, I would advise following her advise. Wouldn’t want to neglect the other Louise right?”
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Eleonore deflated from that remark. Cattleya placed her hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
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Cattleya: “Go check on the other Louise, I’m sure she would be happy to see you.”
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Eleonore: “…Fine.”
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She gave one last look at her little sister and left. All the while repeating the mantra of ‘Rule of Steel’. But Cattleya stayed a few moments. She took a deep breath before covering her mouth with a white cloth while coughing quietly.
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Following the direction where Louise and Bench went she saw Louise standing in front of Bench with one of her arms raised up. She watched with interest when her arm suddenly shifted to a blade that glowed hot, Louise looked at the blade with rapt attention similar to that of a child when inside a candy shop. Cattleya gave a light cough that caught the attention of both Louise and Bench, she gave a small smile to which Louise responded in kind.
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Cattleya: "I hope you can understand your sister."
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Louise 2: "I do understand what she's trying to say but she has to understand that a Ravager isn't some golem. A single Ravager unleashed in this world could already be considered the end of the world. The one we fought… it could have been so much worse."
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Cattleya: “We understand and we’re proud that you led a such a strange group to victory.”
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Louise froze for a moment.
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Louise 2: ‘Proud…of me?’
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Louise 2: “Thank you…”
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Cattleya: “You welcome Louise. It’s just hard for Eleonore to fully grasp the situation. It’s a lot to take in, especially your current condition.”
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Louise 2: “…Sorry you had to see me like this. At least you have my other half, she’s the sister you know and love. You don’t have to pity me.”
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Cattleya smiled and shook her head.
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Cattleya: "No matter what you are, cyborg or human you’re still our sister. We’ll love both of you."
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Louise 2: “Big sis…”
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Bench: "Sorry to break up the moment, but all observational tests are done. Any comments?"
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Louise recomposed herself and rolled her shoulders. Afterwards, she proceeded to punch and kick the air with various fighting styles in rapid succession leaving Cattleya slightly surprised.
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Louise 2: "Nothing to complain about, in fact I feel lighter!"
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Bench: "That's what the nanomachines are making you think. In truth, you're actually three times heavier than before. Coming in at a weight of 3.43 tons"
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Louise and Cattleya: "T-T-Three tons!?"
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Bench gave a few beeps before shooting a blue beam to which Louise and Cattleya's eyes followed. The trail of light ended at the floor and Louise could only blush in embarrassment. On the cobblestone that made up the floor of the workshop were embedded footprints that traced all the way to where Louise was standing, with her feet currently embedded on the floor.
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Bench: "The nanomachines making up your body compressed themselves so much, that your weight increased by a great margin.”
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Bench: "Anyways, lets get on with the part that you like."
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Louise 2: "I can't wait!"
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Cattleya: “Why are you excited?”
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Louise 2: “Battle Practice. I’m going to show Eleonore what I can do. That should help her grasp the situation.”
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Dove’s heart nearly shattered when she read the letter.
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Dove: ‘Why Siesta…’
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The letter was delivered to her by a devastated Martone.
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Dove: ‘Why…me and Zander were ready to make our case…why…you stupid…wonderful girl…”
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Despite being upset by this revelation, Dove still felt blessed to have a friend that would go so far for her. All the more reason why she must save her.
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So she gathered the team to Tech’s home to discuss the plan. They all stood in a circle, ready to save Siesta. Except there was one, slight, problem.
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Dove: “Zander, why did you bring those two?”
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She points at Kirche and Tabitha.
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Zander: “They insisted.”
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Kirche: “What’s wrong Dove, worry I’ll see something I shouldn’t.”
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Dove: “No, but this is serious.”
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Kirche: “And involves Zander, so it involves me.”
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Dove practically breathes hot air out of her nose like a dragon. But she calms herself.
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Dove: “Whatever.”
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Kirche: “Good. Besides, I’m on your side now anyway. Tech clearly looks close to death.”
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She takes a glance at the still unconscious Tech inside the nanobath pod.
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Kirche: “And Tabitha was dying to see the inside of this place.”
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Tabitha nods as her eyes looks around with wonder.
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Flamma: “I’m glad she likes it, but we have a raid to plan. We attack Mott tonight and save Siesta right?”
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Dove: “That’s what I’m thinking. Then we continue with the original plan, having Zander take Siesta and me under him.”
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Flamma: “Naughty.”
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Dove: “Shut it.”
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Kirche: “Yeah, that’s my position.”
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The two stare at each other, lightning crackling.
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Zander: “Ladies, focus.”
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Zander sighs before adding his own suggestion.
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Zander: “Shouldn’t I come with?”
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Flamma: “Me and Dove are already overkill.”
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Zander: “I know but…something tells me something isn’t right.”
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Flamma: “Zander, I know you’re worried about…what we talked about last time. But that’s why I want you here. To take care of Louise and the students. You’re the strongest here so I know they’re in good hands.”
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Zander: “…Alright. I wish Raskreia or Jake was here. They could provide you two backup.”
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Kirche: “Ugh, Jake. Tabitha’s familiar has been sulking ever since he disappeared. If you need backup, why not ask that strange Louise?”
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Flamma: “She’s still Louise and I don’t want to put her in danger. Besides, she’s still not in her best state.”
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Eleonore did find her sister, the one she knew. But she was…different. Like she wasn’t all there. She still tried talking to her but for some reason, Louise wasn’t interested.
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Before she could question her strange behavior, Cattleya dragged her after saying hi to the human Louise. Within that moment, she could have sworn she saw Louise flinch at the two leaving.
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Regardless, the group walked outside and made their way towards the courtyard where the fight against the Ravager began.
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Bench went on ahead and stopped just in front of the sisters.
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Bench: "I'd advise you two to back away a safe distance for this."
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Not questioning the pod-bot, the duo stepped back a few meters. However, Bench told them to back up more. After a hundred meters of backing off, Bench finally considered the distance to be safe.
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Bench beeped then deployed three metal sticks that embedded themselves on the ground. After that a small drill replaced the propulsor that was making him float.
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The drill spun and started to dig a hole. Once Bench was settled to the point that the only thing poking out of the ground was his dome he gave off a prolonged beep, a blue beam of light was launched upward and spread downwards forming a dome with the radius of a hundred meters.
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Of course seeing a blue dome out of nowhere was a definite oddity, so it was to be expected that some students and teachers gathered around and observed it with rapt attention. Louise 2 looked around the gathered crowd and grinned in her mind as she could see Eleonore just beside Cattleya.
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Bench: "Louise, focus."
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Louise 2 walked closer to Bench and only stopping once she was twenty meters away from him. Bench asked her if she was ready to which she scoffed.
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Louise 2: "Is that even a question?"
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Bench: "Very well, hopefully Savages would suffice for this test.”
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Suddenly holographic images of Savages appeared out of nowhere. Once there were about a dozen Bench finally stopped spawning the Savages. Louise lowered her body and brought her arms up in particular angles.
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Bench: "You're still using that fighting style?"
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Louise 2: "Hey, you don't see me in the workshop asking for repairs too often, right? That means that this fighting style works."
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Bench: "I still stand by my point, Panzer Kunst is nothing but a fictional fighting style, that came from a fictional world."
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Louise 2: "Whatever you say."
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Changing her expression from playful to serious, Louise waited for the Savages to attack. The first one who moved went for a punch that was easily dodged by the pink haired girl.
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She was about to counter when another Savage had interrupted her, forcing a block with her right arm. Just past her peripheral vision, she could already see another Savage charging at her with a blade at the ready. She twisted her right arm and used it to grab the Savage, she backed up avoiding another attack from the first Savage. She brought up her left arm and performed a lariat to the Savage that she was grabbing. Once that one was down, she leaned sideways to avoid the upward slash of the Savage that was on her peripheral vision earlier.
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Now that the bladed Savage had overextended itself Louise moved in for the first kill. She unleashed her blades and used it to completely remove the Savage's upper body from its torso.
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One down, eleven to go.
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The Savage that Louise had performed a lariat on was standing up only to reel backwards as Louise used the elbow propulsion to perform a bone crunching uppercut. The force of the attack was too much that the head of the Savage detached itself from its body.
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Two down.
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Louise jumped and angled herself horizontally to avoid two bladed attacks that were aimed at her legs and her head courtesy of two new Savages. While in mid-air, Louise unleashed her right arm blade and a new blade that came out of the sole of her left feet, at the same time she planted her left hand on the ground.
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The left arm spun clockwise while Louise was still in her horizontal position, the left feet blade decapitated the Savage that was aiming for her head while the right arm blade sliced the other Savage in half.
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Four down.
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Controlling the A.I. of the simulation, Bench ordered all of the Savages to attack Louise. Louise for her part took the attack in stride, dodging beautifully while countering whenever the opportunity presented itself.
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Another few seconds of dodging, another Savage overextended itself. Louise was quick on the take, she grabbed the leg and spun around hitting all of the Savages. Once she had more breathing room she threw the makeshift weapon making it collide with another Savage that had just finished standing up.
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While the others stood up Louise unleashed both of her blades and activated her overdrive. Pink lines started to appear all over Louise, for every breath she took steam would come out. Thinking about her next move, she smirked, already having a name.
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Louise 2: ‘Judgment Cut.’
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She moved.
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Bench: 'Too fast!'
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True to his word, after Louise activated her overdrive Louise became nothing more than a blur that was too fast for even Bench to track down, and he was a machine!
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Before she donned the Ravager nanomachines, Bench could track her down with ease and still have some space to give a witty comment but this time it was different.
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One after another, Louise fell another Savage and the only resistance she had encountered was the air.
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Her overdrive finally stopped. She returned to reality, took a cool stance and waited for a second to pass.
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The next instant, the Savages were cut into small cubes and later turned back into data. Looking around, she noticed that there was a train of singed grass, courtesy of her rampage after she activated her overdrive.
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Louise 2: "Well, how did I do Bench?"
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The dome disappeared and Bench was back to floating again.
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Bench: "Do you really want me to answer that?"
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Louise 2 gave a nod to which Bench responded with a slight chuckle.
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Bench: "Alright, you passed the test, you can go and move around again."
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Louise 2: “Yes!”
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She said while doing a fist pump. Afterward, she stood up only to see the gathered crowd had increased. Students were looking at her with various expression but the most obvious expression was of shock.
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Who wouldn't?
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Well, the other familiars of course. Apparently, they also came to watch the show. Flamma was even clapping.
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Flamma: “Impressive, very impressive.”
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Louise 2 was going to rub this in her big sister’s face, but instead walked to who is apparently her familiar.
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Louise 2: “Thanks, you’re…my familiar right?”
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Flamma: “Yep, remember my name?”
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Louise 2: “Aeterna Flamma, it’s a pleasure.”
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The two shake heads and smile at one another.
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Zander: “A truly grand display Miss Louise.”
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Kirche: “Yeah, much better than our Louise.”
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Louise 2: “T-Thanks Kirche…I didn’t expect that from you.”
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Eleonore: “So these are the other familiars?”
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The two sisters approached the group while the students dispersed.
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Flamma: “Just me and Zander. Dove is just a maid I’ve come to love.”
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Dove: “Flamma!”
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Flamma stuck out her tongue while Dove pouted a bit at her teasing.
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Zander: “Hello, a pleasure to meet you two.”
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Eleonore: “Likewise, but I also heard that only Flamma agreed to be our sister’s familiar. Why did you refuse?”
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Kirche: “If you can believe it, Zander is a noble.”
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Both sister’s eyes widen at that fact.
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Eleonore: “Louise summoned a noble?”
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Louise 2: “Whoa, cool.”
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Kirche: “It gets even better, my dear Zander is a King’s Consort. Or a prince if you’d like.”
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Eleonore and Cattleya could barely believe the fact they are in front of someone on the same level as Prince Henrietta. But now that Cattleya looks at him…
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Cattleya: “You…do look the part.”
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A blush appears on Cattleya’s cheeks.
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Flamma: “Oh?”
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Zander: ‘Not again…’
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Kirche & Dove: “Anyway!”
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The two women looked at each other and gave a silent nod. A truce for now.
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Dove: “Would you all like some of my signature pie while Zander finishes what he was doing before.”
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Zander: “Huh?”
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Dove: “You know…”
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Zander: ‘I get. I guess I can try to find potion materials for Tech again.’
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Zander: “Of course, that. I’ll see you later ladies, I have business to attend to.”
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After a moment, Zander was gone, vanished into the forest.
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Cattleya: “That’s a shame, I wish I could have gotten to know him better.”
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Eleonore: “Sister…”
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Louise saw everything through the eyes of her clone and it further isolated her.
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Louise: ‘Clearly, they prefer her…the strong one. But I’ll show them.’
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She’s been training all day and it was hell. But she’s getting stronger, more deadly. She’ll be ready when Dove and Flamma come. But there’s one thing she hates.
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It’s enough to make her question this whole thing.
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The mansion looked normal on the outside due to illusions, but inside…
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She exits the shower, gets dressed and makes her way outside to where Aeron is working. All the way there, she can see various undead working or standing guard. The only humans left where the oblivious guards and Mott.
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But the worst part was outside. Behind the mansion, floating in the air, was what Aeron called a Necropolis. The air was cold around the titanic construction. It was bigger than her family’s mansion but it floated gently. Bone spikes and giant skulls lined all around it’s outer walls. Bright green wisps floated around the building, flying quickly in circles and moaning as they did.
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It’s effect on the surroundings was far worse. Any green grass was burned away, leaving only the Blight. Green gases erupt from the ground, animal life dies, rotting away into slim or bleached bone.
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The trees, once with brown trunks and bright green leaves, now blackened crisps of their former selves. It was enough to nearly drive her and Siesta mad, but Aeron only smiled at the devastation.
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For some reason, it was the only thing keeping her sane. The knowledge that Aeron has it all under his control. But…
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Louise: ‘Why am I helping with such…evil? Just to defeat Flamma and Dove? To get back at the family who replaced me? This is just…so wrong…’
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But its too late to stop now. She owes so much to Aeron and those traitors need to pay. Maybe…she can use this for good afterward. Undead can be used for free labor and help defend her home from invaders.
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Yes…this is fine. This is fine.
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Louise: “Aeron.”
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Aeron, wielding Frostmourne with one hand, turns to his apprentice. He’s now glowing a faint blue hue, all due to his new powers.
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Aeron: “Oh, ready for another round of training? I’m impressed.”
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Louise: “No! My head still hurts from all the magical theory.”
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Aeron: “And I’m sure your body is sore too. Then what do you want?”
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Louise tells the man everything her faker has done. Particularly her skills in battle.
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Aeron: “Okay, that will become a problem. But the plan is the same. I’ll just have to deal with her and Zander myself.”
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“Not yourself my lord, you’ll have the Scourge with you.”
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Louise watches, who she has come to known as Acolyte, come out of the forest.
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Aeron: “Ah, Acolyte! Need more resources?”
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Acolyte: “Not yet, just patrolling the premises. The enemy force can attack at anytime.”
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Aeron: “No, I’m sure it will be tonight. Unless they’re smart, they’ll attack then. I doubt they’ll be leveled headed enough to decide otherwise. And because it’s Siesta in danger, they wouldn’t want others to help.”
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Acolyte: “Understood. We’ll continue to find…”
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He pauses to look at Louise, who is not privy to all that Aeron is planning. The death of bandits, outlaws and orcs nearby is only the start. Emptying graveyards, infiltrating sleeping villages and turning the peasants into undead. Weakening the enemy economy and bolstering ranks by eliminating the weakest links.
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She isn’t ready for that.
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Acolyte: “…resources to produce more ghouls.”
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As he says that, Louise turns to the other structures within the dead forest.
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Crypts.
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They were ugly buildings. Like a mixture between a church and a noble’s family tomb, with long rusty bars. Fog echoed from within, covering the forest in a thick mist.
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The Ziggurats weren’t much better. Unholy and jagged spider pyramids with green energy swirling around the top, where 4 pincers stretch towards the sky.
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Aeron: “Are we running on empty in terms of funds?”
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Acolyte: “Not yet.”
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Aeron: “Good. What would take weeks is taking a day. This sword is truly incredible.”
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Louise: “Aeron…is this…really all necessary?”
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Aeron: “Trust me, it is. We’ll need it all if you are to one day rule.”
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Louise heart nearly stopped. She…is the one who will inherit this? The one will be betray her best friend and claim the crown?!
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Louise: “What do you mean?!”
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Aeron: “I am you’re familiar, so of course the true ruler of this empire will be you.”
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Louise: “I can’t do that! I won’t betray Henrietta!”
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Aeron: “You’re not betraying her, you’re helping to defend your home.”
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Louise: “But with undead?! This is…unholy.”
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Aeron: “Louise, do you remember what kind of mage you are?”
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Louise: “A…Void mage…”
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Another thing Flamma hid from her….
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Aeron: “And who else was a Void mage?”
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Louise: “….The Founder, Brimir.”
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Aeron walks up to Louise and places a hand on her shoulder.
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Aeron: “You’re like his heir, the first Void mage since his passing. What we do, what you do, can’t be unholy. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be unholy too? It was through your magic, that we were summoned. It just a shame that some of your familiar chose to be the truly unholy ones, by going against you.”
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Louise: “I…”
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Aeron: “Trust me, have I led you wrong before. You’ll make the world a better place, even if it may look a bit terrible at first. You’ll rid the world of the bad and leaving only the good.”
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Louise: “…Okay.”
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Aeron: “Great, now get some rest. You still need to sleep, you haven’t had the ring of sustenance for seven days yet. You need to be prepared for tonight.”
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Louise: “…Alright.”
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Louise leaves the hellscape outside and retreats into the one inside. Making her way to her room, she pondered Aeron’s words.
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She was a void mage.
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She was the bearer of the same powers as the Founder.
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So…in the end…
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Everyone who opposed her was in the wrong…blind to the truth. She carried the Founder’s will.
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Yes, she had to believe that.
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Anything to pacify her mind of the doubts that are assaulting her.
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Was she evil, unholy, if she purged the evils of this world by any means necessary?
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People like Mott who sexually abuses woman. People like Dove and Flamma who would betray someone, even leading to rape.
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Of course not…wasn’t that the answer?
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She was…she will be a force of Good.
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A force of Faith…a force of…justice.
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Louise: ‘In for coppers…in for Ecus…’
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Raskreia was lost, hungry and tired.
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Which is nothing too new for an adventurer. Thanks to helpful travelers and the few towns she stumbled across, she knew the general direction of the academy.
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But the problem was the creatures. Beings of shadow that apparently no one recognizes. Some even have white bone armor. Sure, they were easy to take out but they were relentless.
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She couldn’t rest in town in fear of endangering people. So she kept to uncivilized areas and that forced her in near constant battles. She had no time to check out the orb Jace gave her. The whole mess surely took her off course too.
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Right now, she is surrounded by shadow bears with little energy left to cast anything useful. But she won’t give up, even if she has to bite her way to victory, she will make it out of this.
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Raskreia: “Well, are we going to stay here all day or are we going to tussle?”
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The gong sounds and one of the bears lunge at her. But something slices the bear in two. Suddenly, all of the bears back away in what seems to be fear. Something Raskreia never saw before. But when she saw who saved her, she understood why.
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Raskreia: “Jake!? Oh man, you have no idea how glad I am to see you.”
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Jake: “Focus.”
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Raskreia: “Right, lets kick these things into low orbit.”
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Thanks to Jake, the shadow bears were easily turned to dust.
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Raskreia: ‘And I have some energy left to spare.’
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Jake: “Talk.”
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Raskreia: “Huh?”
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Jake: “Why are you here? Where were you?”
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Raskreia: “Oh…yeah…it’s…a bit of a story. Willing to listen?”
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Jake: “…Whatever.”
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So Raskreia told him everything. The darkness, the orb and the planeswalker. And throughout it all, Jake kept a still face. It almost unnerved Raskreia who expected more emotion from the living virus.
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When she was done, Jake took a moment to process everything.
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Jake: “So…if we kill who locked this world down, you can send me home?”
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Raskreia: “One track mind aren’t you? Yeah, but I doubt it will be so easily done.”
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Jake: ‘Whenever is anything in my life easy?’
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Jake: “Alright, I’ll help if it means I can go home. I’ll lead you back to the academy and deal with those creatures.”
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Raskreia: “Oh thank the gods! I was worried I might have gotten lost. But, not to say I’m not grateful, why are you here and not there?”
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Jake: “…Just wandering and thinking. It was a coincidence that I found you.”
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Raskreia: “Well, I’m glad you found me. But if you don’t mind, I need a nap.”
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Jake: “What?”
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With a loud thump, Raskreia passed out and started to snoring the day away.
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Jake: “…Fuck.”
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Jake reluctantly dragged her to a tree and laid her down on it. Then he picked a good spot to rest as well.
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Jake: ‘Finally, a chance to go back…’
ns 15.158.61.51da2
