Mocca Dexter - Part 1

~ 1 Hour ago ~

"You! Stay here! Don't Come outside until they say it's okay to!"

*Bang* *Slam!* I quickly rush out the door and slam it close as I leave.

I turn towards the closed door and cast a locking spell.

*Swoom~*

"... Now, I have to hurry over the palace!"

I point my finger toward myself, then cast a flying spell.

*Float~* ... *Fwooosh~!*

I fly in between the buildings, keeping my flight as low as possible so I don't rise above the rooftops and trigger the no-fly zone's cannons.

*Zooom~*

A magic circle forms in front of my mouth. It’s a Contact Spell to try and communicate with the guards over at the east gate.

“Message from Mocca Dexter! Status report!”

… *Bzzt~!* The magic circle start’s buzzing as if responding to my call.

*Bzzt... Click!* “Eastern watch tower reporting! We have a drone sprite to look over the incoming beast. We have confirmed it’s a Prime Predator!”

“─!!, P─prime predator?!”

*Click*
(I have to quickly contact the magus table!)

*Bzzt… *Click!* “Mocca Dexter, Reporting in!”

The voice of a middle-aged man responds within the magic circle. “Mocca? Is that really you? Have you finally decided to join the magus table at last?”

“Now’s not the time! A primal monster have been spotted near the kingdom, requesting back-up!”

“Heh, funny that you say that─“

*BOOM~!* Explosive sounds is heard behind the call.

“We have a couple of Apex Beasts on our front yard too.”

“AHHH!” Screams of people echoes over the line.

(There too? Wh─what is happening? Why is there so many primal monsters showing up out of nowhere?)

Prime apex predator also known as Primal Beast is a monster beyond the world’s comprehension. Putting them in a food chain simply doesn’t fit it, as it travels and feeds upon apex predators throughout the treacherous land of the demon territory’s wilderness. It rarely leave its hunting ground as only a strong apex predator can truly feed its insatiable hunger. But many wrongdoers have cultivated these beasts and purposely throw them out of their natural habitat to wreak havoc.

“Hyup~!” *CRASH!* *Skrrt~* The sound of the man moving and dodging the attacks of the beast.

“Sorry, Lady Mocca. Even WE have our hands tied by the same monsters.”

“W…where do you think they come from? This has to be deliberate!”

“Who else do you think is responsible?”

“─!!”

(Is it... them?)

“I can guess what you’re thinking, and you are correct. We don’t know where the summoners are, our only hope is to defend the monster’s onslaught before we turn into its meal.”

*Shoo~* *CRASH!!!*

“UGH~! Seems like I can’t keep our little phone date any longer. Catch you later, alright?”

*Bzzt~* The magic circle disappears as the call ends.

(… This is more troublesome than I thought.)

*Shwoom~*

I continue my flight towards the kingdom’s magic stronghold. It contains a device that can deploy magical barrier surrounding the walls of the kingdom.

 Kingdom's Magic Defense Headquarters 

The kingdom’s main military headquarters for all things related to magic. Many of the drone sprite, magic artillery, and wall cannons throughout the kingdom are centrally controlled from this building. It would be fair to call it the primary command center for all military-related operations, with the Knights’ Headquarters following beneath it in the chain of command. It is also called a 'stronghold' as it is located within the upper district reserved for high society and fitted with a bunker in the event of a major emergency.

I arrive at the stronghold. Many mages are scrambling all over the place trying to get a hold of what’s happening. I quickly make my way toward the barrier device, to see few mages trying to fuel it.

*Shwing~*
“Move!” I summon my long staff, and aim it towards the device.

*Booof~!* A ray of mana starts flowing from the tip of the staff towards the device.

The mages start noticing my presence.

“I─is that Lady Dexter? We’re saved!”
“Lady Dexter? For real?”
“You mean the one closest to be the next magus?”

*Chatter* *Chatter*

I ignore all their praises and keep fueling the device with my mana.

*Shwoom~* The device glows brightly, and ready to deploy.

“The barrier is loaded! Use it when necessary!”

“Y─Yes Ma’am!” The mages in charge of deploying the barrier responds to my call.

(Next, I need to charge the weapons.)

I quickly rush out of the barrier room, and quickly make my way to the artillery room.

Just as I was about to reach the weapon command room, I see a few mages in distress.

“Hey! What’s wrong? Keep it simple, we’re in an emergency!”

“A─ah! It’s Lady Dexter! T─the things is…”

“Say it quickly! We don’t have much time to have small talks.”

“Y─yes ma’am! We’re from the drone surveillance branch, and we saw the beast already out of the east forest. It seems to be chasing someone!”

“…”

(Just like last time, a terrifying monster far beyond anyone in the kingdom can handle, and the only way for all of us to survive is for a few sacrifices to happen.)

“… Continue to survey the area! And try to locate the summoner if possible!”

“B─but ma’am, she looks to be a civilian!” The mage looks terrified and worried.

“…We can’t do anything about her. We’ll strike the beast with the cannons as soon as it gets within range.”

(Damn it… If only I’m stronger, I could’ve saved everyone. Just like back then...)

I continue walking back towards the artillery room, only to be halted by one of the drone operators who shouts something particular.

“Wha─ Everyone! There’s someone firing arrows at the beast!”

“Hm? What stupid idiot would risk getting the monster's attention?” I scoff.

I command the drone mages. “Ignore the fool! Just keep an eye on the beast and report to command if it ever gets close.”

“W─wait! The one firing looks to be heavily injured!” Another drone operator says.

“Huh?!”

The crowd have started to mutter loudly, as someone is stupid enough to try and fight the beast alone while injured.

“Is that fool trying to kill himself?”

“He’s already injured, I can see the blood trails left by him in town.”

“W─what the?! Now that I look closer, the person is a little boy! What is he doing there?!”

“A boy?” I hastily walk towards the drone’s magic circle.

The magic drones are controlled and looked through with a magic circle that’s connected to a device. Anyone can touch the magic circle and see the drone’s view.

The drone mage moves to the side, as if trying to hand me the drone’s control.

“The boy is bloodied and bruised all over his face as if he’s taken a beating. Perhaps the person running from the beast is someone’s important to him. Should we ignore him too just as you commanded?”

“Let me see.”

I touched the magic circle. My vision grows blurrier, as my eyes are now changing its view to the eyes of the magic drone.

I see through the vision of the drone, I see the beast roaring and pulverizing the ground around it. The woman running from it is completely helpless, as each massive steps from the beast sends tremors through the ground, making it difficult for anyone nearby to keep their balance.

*CRASH!*
The beast crushes the leg of the woman who stumbled to the ground. It’s expected for a beast this size to decimate anything beneath its feet. The beast opens its mouth, ready to make the woman its next meal. Then suddenly─

*Fwoosh~* *BOOOF~!*

A flaming arrow suddenly flies with incredible speed and explodes on contact inside the beast’s mouth, burning its big tongue.

“─!!, Who is firing those arrows?”

I control the drone and look over towards the person firing the flaming arrows, to see the last person I wish to grace my sight on the field.

*Brrr~* Sound of the drone moving.

“…W… WHAAAAT!!!!”

The drone operators look towards me hearing me shout so loudly.

“W─What’s wrong, ma’am?! Is the beast closing in?”

“T─the boy! What is he doing here!”

“The kid? Ils he someone you know, ma’am?”

(What are you doing, Kohaku-kun! I thought for sure I’ve already locked the door and windows, how did you get─)

I remember the place I’d never bothered clearing. The place where I live, the second floor of my atelier.

“… DAMN IT!”

(Did he jump off the second floor?! The fall is quite high from up there!)

I disconnect my connection with the drone, and turn back straight for the exit.

“Move! Turn off the anti-air cannons for ten minutes! And quickly charge the outer cannons, I’ll go to the field!”

“Yes Ma’am!”

(Kohaku-kun... Why?)

*ZOOOM~!*

I quickly fly towards the east gate, high above the sky.

(Why... You're injured, you should've known your limits!)

Then, something crucial that I should've paid more attention to comes to mind.

"P.S He's a delicate phoenix, be careful with him, okay~?"

(A phoenix...!!)

Phoenixes are known to be kind, understanding and forgiving. They're the first to rush over to someone in need of help. It's in their nature to do so, as they have the ability to heal others at the cost of their lives. To that end, the creature can rebuild itself and be reborn to a younger self using a spell called 'Nova'. They can only cast the spell a number of times before they exhaust its power and perish normally like any other mortal creature would.

"My... Mistake... The same as before..."

I've yet again have disregarded the nature of a creature. I didn't think much of how another person would think and what their wishes are. I've once again... put another person in danger.