A Gathering of Thunderclouds

The contrast between Kana’s Fantasy/Medieval Western European sensibilities in terms of the fortress that she’d created in the other works for the cosplay and card design competition, and Kimi’s Feudal Japanese outlook with a decisive fantasy twist - worked quite well in orderly complement, with Kana’s contribution constituting the outer perimeter’s defenses, and Kimi’s the the innermost, as well as main defensive line. Both Kana and Kimi observed this as Kimi stood up from sitting across Kana’s lap, marveling at the sight, but also thinking to herself about something that felt equally pressing to her.

“If I win in the sense of what that means here, I want to see if I can restore everyone’s memories - or if not that, if I can restore yours. Do you know what you’ll do, when you’re reincarnated back into Japan, into your old life?”

Kimi asked as her voice trailed, which prompted Kana to hug her tightly and stroke her hair, before pulling back and looking at Kimi with love. Kimi couldn't help but consider that even though the possibility of emerging victorious seemed oh so close, it all the same felt so far away too. Kimi wondered in that moment, how everyone was doing back in Japan, back in the other world? It was a thought and a feeling that she couldn't shake - though the affection that Kana was providing her helped settle her nerves as she then listened closely, eager to hear what Kana was going to say and wanting to feel that small bit of relief that spending those moments with Kana actually provided. 

“All I know is that if that’s my fate here - then I’ll just have to move on. I’ll say this though, while I’m still here, with my memories of bright here: you have my consent to restore my memories of all of this, if you can, if you win.”

Kana said as she nodded, before both of they turned and saw that the battlement additions were nearing completion. There was a silence that was between them, an affectionate sort of silence that permeated between them and once again, made the moment feel still and comforting, one of those moments that reminded that this all could and would end favorably. Kimi looked back to Kana as she thought of something to say, but she couldn't muster any words. It was as if that familiar feeling of love and affection between Kimi and Kana created that barrier of comfort and quietness - one where they just needed to be with each other to feel alright. 

A moment or so later, Kimi and Kana made their way into Kimi’s throne room, past the ivory and ruby pillars, and through a customary Asian circular entrance, to Kimi’s throne, as Kimi sat down, with Kana sitting on the arm of the throne this time. It made Kimi smile as she thought back to there first meeting, this small detail that only added to the overall feeling of comfort that made the dread of the coming battles in the War of the Realm feel all the more distant for a short while longer. 

“At this point - I think we should call our Common Folk into two formations on the armory grounds, and discuss the battle formations. What do you think?”

Kimi said with yet another attempt at bravery and the fortitude of a battle commander - at least as she’d imagined one being. As she waited for Kana to answer and to thus give her input on the manner - Kimi once again thought back to the fictional adventures within anime, manga, and light novels that she'd watched and read about in the past, trying to consider how the various protagonists of those properties took on roles like this? Kimi then blushed, considering how easy they made it look, and yet all the same - there she was forced into this other world with barely a plan, and simply going off of her love for Kana, and a desire to get home and free everyone else while restoring their memories as well. 

“I agree! Since my Common Folk are of the Sorcerer and Sorceress varieties, they’ll be on the outer defensive wall structures in my area.”

Kana replied supportively as she stroked Kimi’s hair. She could sense Kimi's nervousness - as it was beyond palpable. Event though she too was feeling a great deal of anxiety about what was coming in terms of the approaching battles that were yet to occur - she knew that she couldn't show such an emotional response, as she had to help balance out Kimi. Fortunately, it wasn't in Kana's nature to display her fear or otherwise worry about anything. Instead, she merely picked up and carried on with a brave face, as she was in that moment. 

“Then I’ll have mine in the main fortress and armory walls with their swords, and the moat of enchanted flames. According to this Sorcerers and Slayers card, I can enchant them so they can’t be extinguished except on my order as the Slayer Queen!”

Kimi said as she pulled out the ivory and ruby inlay box, going through the deck of extremely durable and pristine, enchanted cards, before she pulled out the one that she was referring to. Kimi couldn't help but once again consider how different these cards seemed to her now, how different they felt, and once she restored everyone's memories after all of this - if she could - how would these Sorcerers and Slayers cards be seen back in the other world, back in Japan? Kimi didn't know, but what she did know was that the cards that she and Kimi had were going to be the best lines of defense for both of them in the coming battles, until they could safely and soundly put all off this behind them back in their world, comfortably back in Japan. 

The Will of the Heart in the Flames - Effect: Allows for flames within the domain of the Slayer Queen to be rendered inextinguishable, save for her sole command.

Kimi and Kana each smiled, knowing that that would be quite useful indeed.

 Within the blackened muck, mire, and rotten bamboo - with Feudal Japanese style ruins as the only architecture, Riku found a further Sorcerers and  Slayers card of his own in his ominous, enchanted, floating and hovering grimoire - one that like the one Kimi had shown Kana, would raise the stakes of the battle even further.

Assault Troll Formation - Effect: Allows the Sorcerer King to bend and manipulate the magical essence of a maximum of fifty of his Common Folk - in order to turn them into Assault Trolls.

“Interesting -  but what do these look like?”

Riku asked as the grimoire flipped its pages to answer his question - stopping on the page that did. Assault Trolls were about ten to fifteen feet all, heavy and strong, but surprisingly quick - with black skin, and only three massive toes. With tight, sharp edged torso armor and full head and neck protection armored helmets that were horned, and carrying  rather short handled axes with downward blades that were almost as long as the handle themselves, they truly were an elite force. 

“Fifty of these little monkeys in rags should be suitable for this transformation.”

Riku said to the grimoire as it then closed. As Riku was scheming, Kimi and Kana were coming ever closer.

“I really miss home. I miss have bubble tea, I miss going out for food, I miss going down to Tokyo - all of it.”

Kimi said as she looked at Kana, considering the weight of the coming onslaught and feeling as if she just needed to say these words of longing. Jana nodded encouragingly as she listened. 

“To think - I thought that the appeasing college entrance exams for three of the top schools in all of Japan were daunting challenges to think about - but now we’ve been transported or incarnated into this world, this world of a card game that we’re now attached to - I don’t know if I’m ready -“

Kimi added, before Kana gently placed her hand over Kimi’s mouth as she smiled supportively at her.

“Neither of us are - not truly. We weren’t trying to get the chance to go to war back in the other world, so it’s not like we’d be fully prepared to do so here. Thereby, we just have to do what we can - together.”

Kana said as Kimi leaned into her for a hug and a meaningful kiss - when one of Kimi’s and one of Kana’s respective Common Folk each came in, unbothered by the sight of affection before them.

“The preparations on the outer defensive walls are complete, my Sorceress Queen.”

Kana’s Common Folk representative said, before Kimi’s spoke up.

“So are those of the inner and main defensive walls, my Slayer Queen.”

With that, Kimi and Kana just looked at each other and nodded. There wasn’t a need to say anything more in that moment, for all four individuals there knew that the eve of battle was not just upon them, but that the attack was imminent.