Katsumi rubbed her hands together, pacing outside the hall of the Magic Council. She was nearly three hours early for her hearing. Probably not the best idea in hindsight. Now she was stuck trying not to break down in front of the building. Some of her recent jobs, namely the one involving an assassin and one involving a group of bandits, had ended in death. Death Katsumi had struggled to avoid. Not that that mattered to the Council. They wanted answers as to why the deaths had happened. Katsumi was determined not to play the LAO card. She was not weak. That game might have weakened her physical body but it was getting up to speed. That wasn't why those men had died. They had died so she could protect others. Nothing more nothing less.
One of the guards gently put a hand on Katsumi's arm. She jumped. The landing nearly twisted her ankle and the swords woman limped a few steps. "Yes?" She said with a wince. The guard bowed slowly. "The council will see you now, Ms. Akahoshi. They're impressed by your adherence to being on time." He swept an arm out to have her go first. She graciously took the lead. However, the whole song and dance didn't stop her from noticing the protective measures which were being enacted.
Two shadows were flitting about the ceiling. Probably some sort of shadow mages or fast attackers. Meant to nullify Katsumi before she attacked. The three suits of clanking armor where to hem her in then. Possibly to make sure that no magic was used on her part. Katsumi had little doubt there were another three guards somewhere with reaching weapons. That would keep her from going after the tanks. All the extra precaution made the swords woman wonder. Did the Magic Council really think she was that dangerous?
As they approached the door leading into the council chambers, a royal looking guard stepped forward. Unlike the silver theme of the previous guards, this one was decked in gold. A fine blue plumage adorned his helmet. The Council's personal sentinels. Reknown fighters that even someone behind times like Katsumi knew about them. Before the sentinel could even ask, the swords woman was placing her Henkan in her hands. "Don't lose those, please. A Ms. Elizabeth Masuri wants them if I'm arrested. If you might kindly deliver them to her in that event, I would be most grateful." Katsumi bowed slowly. The sentinel barely noded before stepping out of the way.
The normal guards led Katsumi into the chamber before leaving themselves. She frowned looking around. The only people in the chamber were five old mages and herself. This was the wise Magic Council? Weren't they afraid of what she might do? One of the old men began chuckling softly. "I told all of you she would be confused. You all owe me 200 jewel." Katsumi raised one slight eyebrow. They had been betting on her response? This had to be some kind of joke. No self respecting Magic Council would do such a thing.
"Oh shush yourself, Harold. You've confused her all the more!" An old woman berated the man. She turned back to Katsumi. It was odd that such a tiny woman whose feet couldn't touch the ground if she wanted to see over her desk, was a powerful leader. "Don't mind Harold, dear. I'm Minerva." Katsumi bowed, opening her mouth to speak. However, Minerva wasn't quite done speaking. "We summoned you to discuss two topics. The first are the disturbing amount of deaths in your first couple of jobs. We understand you've had a difficult time adjusting but that isn't acceptable. However, instead of simply jailing you, we've voted to hear your reasoning." The woman shot a venomous look at another council member. Katsumi didn't think Minerva had been on her side in that debate.
"The second part is to discuss repercussions of the Lacrima Arts Online game. Provided you can satisfy us with your answers today, we'll be providing you with a mission regarding that little incident." Katsumi politely folded her hands in front of her. It was better than screaming that the 'little incident' had cost nearly four thousand lives. Her tongue might bleed if she kept biting it so hard. LAO had been the dream of a mad man. There was nothing little about it.
Harold peered down at Katsumi from behind his long bushy beard. He had kind eyes that made Katsumi feel more relaxed then the crone Minerva. "If you wouldn't mind running us through your missions and your reasoning, Ms. Akahoshi, we'd most appreciate it. It'll provide us with a clearer picture by which to judge your actions by." The old man winked before slyly looking over at Minerva. The old woman humphed clearly unhappy about being upstaged. Katsumi closed her eyes to block them all out. She needed to focus to tell her tale.
The swords woman began with her more recent job, the one dealing with bandits. It was the more troublesome situation. Katsumi wasn't sure if she'd truly needed to kill. Perhaps she could have gotten away with only knocking them out. She began from the beginning. An old man and his daughter had approached her regarding recapturing their village. Not only had the bandits stolen it from them but a few people had been captured by them as well. It turned out to be too late to save those who had been captured. Katsumi had found their bodies afterward. The bandits had come at her with the intent to kill from the beginning. Unfortunately being the weak mage that she was, Katsumi had no spells to keep them down. Thirty bandits versus little old her. She had done her best not to cut them down. It simply hadn't worked out that way in the end.
The Council listened quietly as she spoke. They were content apparently to let her speak her piece. Once she was done, Minerva spoke up. "That seems like a clear cut case of homicide, Ms. Akahoshi. Thirty cases of it in fact." She said shrilly. Katsumi bowed her head. If that was there decision on the matter, so be it. "Nonsense, Minerva. The girl was defending herself and the villagers she thought she needed to rescue. One girl on thirty mage bandits? It's no wonder she needed to kill them. There was no backup for her." Minerva cut a peeved look at Harold. Katsumi wasn't sure why the woman didn't like her but she did appreciate Harold running interference.
"Yes but why did she go without backup? She could have clearly asked for some from a local mage!" The old woman looked quite smug. She clearly felt that this argument put Katsumi on the chopping block. Harold laughed softly, wiping the smug look off Minerva's face. "Ah Minerva. You forget. There were hostages and villagers exposed to the elements. They clearly stated that they'd asked mages in town. They were turned down time and again. Bandits were too lowly for them. What reason did Ms. Akahoshi have to believe it would be any different for her? And with time being a factor, she had to make a call." Harold looked at Minerva, his face suddenly serious. "Call for the vote on this issue, Head Councilwoman. There's no need to hear the second story. Ms. Akahoshi is clearly an earnest woman who does not kill without reason."
"I will not! This young woman-" "Is outstanding." One of the other council people spoke up. This woman looked to be the youngest of the group, only the barest trace of wrinkles on her face. Her hair was a shocking silver, whether from age or natural was impossible to say. "She survived an experience that broke many people. She stood on the front line, watched friends die and still had the courage to stand up and be a mage for this council. This folly has gone on long enough. Ms. Akahoshi is not to blame for the death of your grandson, Minerva. Stop blaming every single one of the survivors for his death." The woman took a look around the chamber. "Does anyone besides Minerva believe that Ms. Akahoshi is a murderous menace unfit to walk the streets?" The lack of hands filled Katsumi's heart. They were on her side regarding these incidents. From here forward, she would do her best not to kill again. She would work harder to be better and prevent unneeded deaths.
"Pah! You are all too soft! Its decisions like these that lead to Lacrima Arts Online! We must be harder! That damned game would have never been created if we'd cracked down on these...these criminals!" She pointed a shaking finger at Katsumi. Tears streamed down her face that somehow managed to also be red with rage. "She should have died in that game instead of my grandson. Why did Matthew need to die when this murderous bitch flaunts her authority over others?! Off with her head I say! Off with it!" Harold smacked his desk making everyone else in the room jump.
"That is enough! Sentinels!" Several gold plated guards entered the room. "Please escort Minerva to her chambers. We have a little more business to discuss with Ms. Akahoshi and she is impeded our forward progress." Minerva hissed at the old man. "You can't kick me out! I own this council! You, sentinel!" One of the guards snapped to attention as the old woman pointed at him. The rest moved to surround the councilwoman. "Kill that woman. Kill her! Mount her head on a pike and let the world know I won't rest until the survivors of Lacrima Arts Online and its creator are dead!" Harold signaled to the sentinels. His face looked unbearably sad. They picked up the head council woman and carried her, kicking, screaming, from the chamber.
Katsumi sat passively through all of it. Even when the sentinel approached her, she only looked at him. "If you are going to kill me, I only ask you make it quick. I haven't lived as much as I wished but I won't begrudge someone else their chance at peace. Please do not murder any other survivors though. They fought hard to get out of that death game." She lowered her head so the back of her neck was exposed. Her breathing was steady despite the fear clawing at her breast. She didn't want to die. No way in hell. However, for the other survivors she would gladly lay down her life.
"Please raise you head, Ms. Akahoshi. You are not going to die today. Instead, for the deaths you facilitated, we'll give you some work as penance." The swords woman looked up to see the council smiling down at her. There was strain in their eyes and Katsumi had a feeling it had only a little to do with their raving head council woman. Perhaps Lacrima Arts Online was coming back to haunt them all. It hadn't been a land of happiness. Dark things had been born inside the virtual landscape. Murderers, who delighted in killing, child exploiters, who had implemented child slavery, and more than a few sick mind twisted into insanity by the game itself. A few of those dark things had escaped. Of that Katsumi was absolutely certain.
"Might I speculate that this penance has something to do with LAO?" She asked tentatively. The council members looked at each other. It was the woman that had defended her earlier that spoke up. "Indeed, Ms. Akahoshi. It turns out that Laughing Coffin, a murder guild inside LAO, has established itself as a dark guild within the real world." Katsumi covered her mouth with both hands. It couldn't be Laughing Coffin. They'd beaten the guild in the game. They'd been defeated! They'd been locked up in an effort to stop them from killing anyone else. The swords woman closed her eyes. Damn. That had only been in the game. Once they had all been released, Laughing Coffin was free to roam once again.
The councilwoman looked like she'd continued talking while Katsumi was lost in memories. "I'm sorry, Ms. councilwoman. I need a little time to process this. I'll happily hunt down Laughing Coffin but at the moment, I'm struggling to come to terms with it. We'd taken care of them in LAO. Locked them up so they couldn't hurt anyone else. I was under the impression they were only a bad dream." The council looked sympathetic, nodding their heads. Katsumi bowed to them. "Might I be excused? Or is there more I need to be told?" Harold cleared his throat looking uncomfortable. "Unfortunately there is more."
"It seems that the creator of LAO created two other games as well in addition to a Seed that he sent out onto the Lacrima Net." Katsumi slowly closed her eyes. Of course her uncle had created more games. Why wouldn't he? He'd had the resources, the talent and the time since he still hadn't been found. Her only confusion was what they wanted her to do about them. "You're shutting the games down, aren't you? That's the only option there is. My uncle's work can't be trusted no matter what!" Katsumi watched the council look at each other yet again. She was really starting to get sick of it. Just tell her what was going on already.
"The thing is, Ms. Akahoshi, we can't shut them down. Your uncle has made them impervious to magic on the outside. Well, not impervious but the wrong magic blast will kill everyone within the games. With tens of thousands logging into the games every day, if not more, the risk is too great" The councilwoman awkwardly cleared her throat. Katsumi kept her eyes glued to the ground. If she didn't, she might burn a hole in the council with her gaze. They needed to tell her what they wanted already. "To shut down Great Gale Online and Nilfheim Online, your uncle's DNA is needed. Either that or..." Katsumi bit back a groan as she finished the sentence. "Or that of a relative. And since I'm the only relative with the experience to take on those games, you want me to go into the games and shut them down." The council nodded as one.
"You are the only person that can do this, Ms. Akahoshi. We'll send you the new Amtspher and the information you'll need to take on not only the games but also Laughing Coffin." Harold look at each of the other council members. "With business out of the way, you're free to go, Ms. Akahoshi. Don't kill again if you can help it. You won't get out of it so easily next time." Katsumi rose, bowing stiffly. Turning her back on the Magic Council, the swords woman walked from the chamber. If the punishment for well intentioned, unavoidable death was walking back into her personal hell twice, there was no way she would do it again. Katsumi would hate to see what the punishment would be for intentional death. It would probably be something like being locked into LAO again for a month or more. For all the council looked like sweet old men and women, they were really a bunch of vipers looking to cover up their own mistakes. Katsumi would go out of her way to avoid dealing with them in the future. Otherwise, she might end up with an even worse mission or condemned in some way or another.
WC: 2776
One of the guards gently put a hand on Katsumi's arm. She jumped. The landing nearly twisted her ankle and the swords woman limped a few steps. "Yes?" She said with a wince. The guard bowed slowly. "The council will see you now, Ms. Akahoshi. They're impressed by your adherence to being on time." He swept an arm out to have her go first. She graciously took the lead. However, the whole song and dance didn't stop her from noticing the protective measures which were being enacted.
Two shadows were flitting about the ceiling. Probably some sort of shadow mages or fast attackers. Meant to nullify Katsumi before she attacked. The three suits of clanking armor where to hem her in then. Possibly to make sure that no magic was used on her part. Katsumi had little doubt there were another three guards somewhere with reaching weapons. That would keep her from going after the tanks. All the extra precaution made the swords woman wonder. Did the Magic Council really think she was that dangerous?
As they approached the door leading into the council chambers, a royal looking guard stepped forward. Unlike the silver theme of the previous guards, this one was decked in gold. A fine blue plumage adorned his helmet. The Council's personal sentinels. Reknown fighters that even someone behind times like Katsumi knew about them. Before the sentinel could even ask, the swords woman was placing her Henkan in her hands. "Don't lose those, please. A Ms. Elizabeth Masuri wants them if I'm arrested. If you might kindly deliver them to her in that event, I would be most grateful." Katsumi bowed slowly. The sentinel barely noded before stepping out of the way.
The normal guards led Katsumi into the chamber before leaving themselves. She frowned looking around. The only people in the chamber were five old mages and herself. This was the wise Magic Council? Weren't they afraid of what she might do? One of the old men began chuckling softly. "I told all of you she would be confused. You all owe me 200 jewel." Katsumi raised one slight eyebrow. They had been betting on her response? This had to be some kind of joke. No self respecting Magic Council would do such a thing.
"Oh shush yourself, Harold. You've confused her all the more!" An old woman berated the man. She turned back to Katsumi. It was odd that such a tiny woman whose feet couldn't touch the ground if she wanted to see over her desk, was a powerful leader. "Don't mind Harold, dear. I'm Minerva." Katsumi bowed, opening her mouth to speak. However, Minerva wasn't quite done speaking. "We summoned you to discuss two topics. The first are the disturbing amount of deaths in your first couple of jobs. We understand you've had a difficult time adjusting but that isn't acceptable. However, instead of simply jailing you, we've voted to hear your reasoning." The woman shot a venomous look at another council member. Katsumi didn't think Minerva had been on her side in that debate.
"The second part is to discuss repercussions of the Lacrima Arts Online game. Provided you can satisfy us with your answers today, we'll be providing you with a mission regarding that little incident." Katsumi politely folded her hands in front of her. It was better than screaming that the 'little incident' had cost nearly four thousand lives. Her tongue might bleed if she kept biting it so hard. LAO had been the dream of a mad man. There was nothing little about it.
Harold peered down at Katsumi from behind his long bushy beard. He had kind eyes that made Katsumi feel more relaxed then the crone Minerva. "If you wouldn't mind running us through your missions and your reasoning, Ms. Akahoshi, we'd most appreciate it. It'll provide us with a clearer picture by which to judge your actions by." The old man winked before slyly looking over at Minerva. The old woman humphed clearly unhappy about being upstaged. Katsumi closed her eyes to block them all out. She needed to focus to tell her tale.
The swords woman began with her more recent job, the one dealing with bandits. It was the more troublesome situation. Katsumi wasn't sure if she'd truly needed to kill. Perhaps she could have gotten away with only knocking them out. She began from the beginning. An old man and his daughter had approached her regarding recapturing their village. Not only had the bandits stolen it from them but a few people had been captured by them as well. It turned out to be too late to save those who had been captured. Katsumi had found their bodies afterward. The bandits had come at her with the intent to kill from the beginning. Unfortunately being the weak mage that she was, Katsumi had no spells to keep them down. Thirty bandits versus little old her. She had done her best not to cut them down. It simply hadn't worked out that way in the end.
The Council listened quietly as she spoke. They were content apparently to let her speak her piece. Once she was done, Minerva spoke up. "That seems like a clear cut case of homicide, Ms. Akahoshi. Thirty cases of it in fact." She said shrilly. Katsumi bowed her head. If that was there decision on the matter, so be it. "Nonsense, Minerva. The girl was defending herself and the villagers she thought she needed to rescue. One girl on thirty mage bandits? It's no wonder she needed to kill them. There was no backup for her." Minerva cut a peeved look at Harold. Katsumi wasn't sure why the woman didn't like her but she did appreciate Harold running interference.
"Yes but why did she go without backup? She could have clearly asked for some from a local mage!" The old woman looked quite smug. She clearly felt that this argument put Katsumi on the chopping block. Harold laughed softly, wiping the smug look off Minerva's face. "Ah Minerva. You forget. There were hostages and villagers exposed to the elements. They clearly stated that they'd asked mages in town. They were turned down time and again. Bandits were too lowly for them. What reason did Ms. Akahoshi have to believe it would be any different for her? And with time being a factor, she had to make a call." Harold looked at Minerva, his face suddenly serious. "Call for the vote on this issue, Head Councilwoman. There's no need to hear the second story. Ms. Akahoshi is clearly an earnest woman who does not kill without reason."
"I will not! This young woman-" "Is outstanding." One of the other council people spoke up. This woman looked to be the youngest of the group, only the barest trace of wrinkles on her face. Her hair was a shocking silver, whether from age or natural was impossible to say. "She survived an experience that broke many people. She stood on the front line, watched friends die and still had the courage to stand up and be a mage for this council. This folly has gone on long enough. Ms. Akahoshi is not to blame for the death of your grandson, Minerva. Stop blaming every single one of the survivors for his death." The woman took a look around the chamber. "Does anyone besides Minerva believe that Ms. Akahoshi is a murderous menace unfit to walk the streets?" The lack of hands filled Katsumi's heart. They were on her side regarding these incidents. From here forward, she would do her best not to kill again. She would work harder to be better and prevent unneeded deaths.
"Pah! You are all too soft! Its decisions like these that lead to Lacrima Arts Online! We must be harder! That damned game would have never been created if we'd cracked down on these...these criminals!" She pointed a shaking finger at Katsumi. Tears streamed down her face that somehow managed to also be red with rage. "She should have died in that game instead of my grandson. Why did Matthew need to die when this murderous bitch flaunts her authority over others?! Off with her head I say! Off with it!" Harold smacked his desk making everyone else in the room jump.
"That is enough! Sentinels!" Several gold plated guards entered the room. "Please escort Minerva to her chambers. We have a little more business to discuss with Ms. Akahoshi and she is impeded our forward progress." Minerva hissed at the old man. "You can't kick me out! I own this council! You, sentinel!" One of the guards snapped to attention as the old woman pointed at him. The rest moved to surround the councilwoman. "Kill that woman. Kill her! Mount her head on a pike and let the world know I won't rest until the survivors of Lacrima Arts Online and its creator are dead!" Harold signaled to the sentinels. His face looked unbearably sad. They picked up the head council woman and carried her, kicking, screaming, from the chamber.
Katsumi sat passively through all of it. Even when the sentinel approached her, she only looked at him. "If you are going to kill me, I only ask you make it quick. I haven't lived as much as I wished but I won't begrudge someone else their chance at peace. Please do not murder any other survivors though. They fought hard to get out of that death game." She lowered her head so the back of her neck was exposed. Her breathing was steady despite the fear clawing at her breast. She didn't want to die. No way in hell. However, for the other survivors she would gladly lay down her life.
"Please raise you head, Ms. Akahoshi. You are not going to die today. Instead, for the deaths you facilitated, we'll give you some work as penance." The swords woman looked up to see the council smiling down at her. There was strain in their eyes and Katsumi had a feeling it had only a little to do with their raving head council woman. Perhaps Lacrima Arts Online was coming back to haunt them all. It hadn't been a land of happiness. Dark things had been born inside the virtual landscape. Murderers, who delighted in killing, child exploiters, who had implemented child slavery, and more than a few sick mind twisted into insanity by the game itself. A few of those dark things had escaped. Of that Katsumi was absolutely certain.
"Might I speculate that this penance has something to do with LAO?" She asked tentatively. The council members looked at each other. It was the woman that had defended her earlier that spoke up. "Indeed, Ms. Akahoshi. It turns out that Laughing Coffin, a murder guild inside LAO, has established itself as a dark guild within the real world." Katsumi covered her mouth with both hands. It couldn't be Laughing Coffin. They'd beaten the guild in the game. They'd been defeated! They'd been locked up in an effort to stop them from killing anyone else. The swords woman closed her eyes. Damn. That had only been in the game. Once they had all been released, Laughing Coffin was free to roam once again.
The councilwoman looked like she'd continued talking while Katsumi was lost in memories. "I'm sorry, Ms. councilwoman. I need a little time to process this. I'll happily hunt down Laughing Coffin but at the moment, I'm struggling to come to terms with it. We'd taken care of them in LAO. Locked them up so they couldn't hurt anyone else. I was under the impression they were only a bad dream." The council looked sympathetic, nodding their heads. Katsumi bowed to them. "Might I be excused? Or is there more I need to be told?" Harold cleared his throat looking uncomfortable. "Unfortunately there is more."
"It seems that the creator of LAO created two other games as well in addition to a Seed that he sent out onto the Lacrima Net." Katsumi slowly closed her eyes. Of course her uncle had created more games. Why wouldn't he? He'd had the resources, the talent and the time since he still hadn't been found. Her only confusion was what they wanted her to do about them. "You're shutting the games down, aren't you? That's the only option there is. My uncle's work can't be trusted no matter what!" Katsumi watched the council look at each other yet again. She was really starting to get sick of it. Just tell her what was going on already.
"The thing is, Ms. Akahoshi, we can't shut them down. Your uncle has made them impervious to magic on the outside. Well, not impervious but the wrong magic blast will kill everyone within the games. With tens of thousands logging into the games every day, if not more, the risk is too great" The councilwoman awkwardly cleared her throat. Katsumi kept her eyes glued to the ground. If she didn't, she might burn a hole in the council with her gaze. They needed to tell her what they wanted already. "To shut down Great Gale Online and Nilfheim Online, your uncle's DNA is needed. Either that or..." Katsumi bit back a groan as she finished the sentence. "Or that of a relative. And since I'm the only relative with the experience to take on those games, you want me to go into the games and shut them down." The council nodded as one.
"You are the only person that can do this, Ms. Akahoshi. We'll send you the new Amtspher and the information you'll need to take on not only the games but also Laughing Coffin." Harold look at each of the other council members. "With business out of the way, you're free to go, Ms. Akahoshi. Don't kill again if you can help it. You won't get out of it so easily next time." Katsumi rose, bowing stiffly. Turning her back on the Magic Council, the swords woman walked from the chamber. If the punishment for well intentioned, unavoidable death was walking back into her personal hell twice, there was no way she would do it again. Katsumi would hate to see what the punishment would be for intentional death. It would probably be something like being locked into LAO again for a month or more. For all the council looked like sweet old men and women, they were really a bunch of vipers looking to cover up their own mistakes. Katsumi would go out of her way to avoid dealing with them in the future. Otherwise, she might end up with an even worse mission or condemned in some way or another.
WC: 2776
