Starshine Academy, Faustus City Pt2

"Aaaah~ My back…! D-don't~! You're touching me too much. It feels so good!" Tia gasped in pleasure.

It was like an electric current through her body.

No, she was REALLY being electrocuted. There was a figure kneading her stiff muscles after the match.

Betty was taking her time working on such a body.

She hid her excitement from being able to touch her 'friend' so freely, but focused on her job.

Relaxing and maintaining her muscles.

Shaolin Soccer isn't usually a sport that took so much out of people. These two were just special.

As the squad's second-in-command, she had checked on Ryan earlier and did the same thing to him too. Making sure the team still functioned even if half its members were in bed from exhaustion.

Applying her electric magic in her massage.

"Ah~" Tia's moans made it hard for Bella to do this without her thoughts wondering here and there.

But she didn't stop her. Hearing her cute gasps was of the few enjoyments she had these days.

"Tia, it's your own fault for playing so much. Get better soon and read the report I'm leaving. We're to set off once a replacement force comes." Bella didn't see a response, but she knew Tia heard her.

It looked like the twin tailed girl didn't hear anything being spoken. Her organs felt like they were dying.

Bella awaited the girl's answer.

"…I wanted to win." Tia finally responded to her.

"Then you should have decked him hard enough to knock him out with your Gift, then scored." (Bella)

"That's cheaaatttiiiinnnnng!" Tia moaned with a pouty face. She didn't use her Gift for a reason.

"You could have won easily." (Bella)

"That's cheating… I'm not good at controlling my Gift. If I hit him, he might not wake up…!" (Tia)

"But you'd still win, right?" Bella tried to seduce her into misusing her power for at least one moment.

Then Ryan could rest in the medical bay for a while.

With him out of action, she could spend more time with Tia alone. The girl's attention would be on her.

"But then who'd play ball with me?" Tia didn't seem to notice her friend's dark implications whatsoever.

"Why not 'play' with me? I'll treat you right." Bella sat Tia on her lap and looked deeply into her eyes.

Her makeup covered face gleaming with beauty.

They looked at each other without speaking. The intentions behind her words were clear enough.

However…

"Thanks! You really ARE the bestest friend in the entire world, Bella." Tia gave the girl a hug.

She was so dense that any romantic words came off as just 'friendly'. The one thing separating them.

At least, that's how Bella saw it.

Tia finally nodded off and went limp in the elegant beauty's arms. It filled the girl with disappointment.

'Next time…' Bella made a resolution to hit on her again until she got this through her thick skull.

She unravelled the exhausted girl's braided twin tails and let her black hair flow onto the pillow.

Laying her down peacefully.

Tia seemed half-asleep at this point. Babbling like a child pretending to have a grasp on their reality.

"Fine… Fine… I'll read that report later. Just give me a minute. A minute…" She mumbled in sleep talks.

Acting all cutesy to the very end.

"Sweet dreams." Since the girl was sleeping, Bella finally loosened her expression and gazed openly.

'You should really learn how to do this yourself.' A thought came to Bella's head about this routine.

Tia and Bella had gone to the same 'Royal Majin' Middle School. They both learn a certain magic.

Those that were widely known as 'Formulas'.

Only Sages who possessed Macro Circuits like her and Tia were able to weave the Ether of the world.

Some who possessed Magic Pathways could bypass some restrictions and use Formulas of their Affinity, but those who possessed Macro Circuits were the only one who could use any Affinity.

So long as they learnt the right Formula, it wasn't impossible for them to use Fire and Water at once.

Conflicting elements that was hard to naturally use without some sort of Mystic Tool or altered body.

Tia would have been capable of this too… if it wasn't for the fact she skipped lessons and hated studying in general. This sports addict couldn't go a day in the library. Sitting down to read peacefully.

'Honestly…' Bella sighed inwardly before going out to wash the sweat off her hands. She looked at the mirror and checked if her makeup had smudged first, since she'd feel embarrassed if it was ruined.

When noticing her eyeliner had rubbed off, an angry look appeared on her face momentarily.

Bang! She slammed the sink, but there didn't seem to be any annoyance at Tia's hair brushing her face.

It seemed more directed at her own self.

Bella could tell Tia and Ryan were on their way to becoming closer than playmates at this point.

And she dreaded the thought.

'I found her first…' Jealousy appeared in her eyes when she remembered their, her and Tia's, shared history. The destruction and carnage that had been stopped by the feelings she had no choice to hide.

It was tragic beginning.

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Back when we were attending the Royal Majin Middle School, I felt out of place everywhere I went. There were so many friendly faces pushing themselves into my view. Trying to get attention.

As the daughter of the Mag-E Company that specialised in advanced robotics and Attribute Formulas, my position in the social and caste hierarchy was high. Much more than normal Sages.

My bloodline was special.

It was said that only 10% of Sages were of the Macro Circuit variety, but our abilities were useful.

Unlike the Magic Pathways that had become obsolete with the Harmonic Theory's insistence on the use of Limiters, those possessing Macro Circuits weren't bothered by restrained Mana.

After all, their powers came from nature. Being able to use external magical energy, Ether, like limbs.

I used to be quite proud of my heritage.

It defined who I was. Moulding my whole existence.

I was the Lightning Princess. An untouchable figure that was the embodiment of power and beauty.

None dared to approach me.

Except her…

"Hey, Bella, can you help me get over the wall in the playground? I… ummm… want to get groceries for my dad!" A twin tailed fool pulled me out of the library and dared to make such requests of me.

I'd only just introduced myself in the first day of school. We weren't close enough to ask favours of.

Regardless, I was a kind and gentle soul.

Helping her out while giving her warning.

"Don't ever talk to me next time… unless you want to get hurt, that is." A magic circle hovered above my hand. My natural Macro Circuits helping me control Ether much better than a Human could.

"Okay! Now can you lend me your shoulders to stand on?" Tia ignored the threat and moved on.

She brazenly stood on my shoulders and jumped over the wall. Giving me no time to tell her off.

I was left there speechless…

At first, there was the thought in my mind that maybe this would be the last time she approached.

Like always, I centred my routine off elegance and studies. Trying to become the best hair I could be.

My mother was absent a lot in my life, but I respected the legacy she'd created as a scientist.

It made me want to become just like her.

"Hey, Bella, what are you doing today?" Again, Tia barged info the library and disturbed my peace.

"…Did you not hear me?" I spoke about last time.

"I can hear your voice just fine." The innocent look on her face made me realise she'd forgotten it.

The threat approaching me before.

The librarian eventually kicked her out for making a big fuss, and I later heard she was disciplined for leaving school and skipping classes. Her parents seemed to be in a good position of authority.

If not, she would have been punished much worse.

Tia was the only blight in my perfect life at the time. An annoyance that kept getting in my way.

Oh how delusional I was…

It didn't take long for disaster to strike the Mag-E Company. Mom was framed for fraud and ran off.

Leaving me to take the brunt of criticism.

Those fake looks of respect changed into open mockeries and insults. They called me a criminal.

Or at least the child of a criminal.

With my Mag-E Company having been taken and swallowed whole by a rival business, I was left both poor and disgraced. All my dreams of being someone above others became nothing but fiction.

All my so-called 'friends' had left me, and I was driven into a corner mentally. I had nothing left.

"Bella~ What do you want to eat today? Mom made me food. Wanna share?" But Tia stayed the same.

It was only then did I realise my foolishness. I had put worth in things that were merely illusionary.

Fame. Influence. Money. Honour…

All these had faded when my family fell. All except the bond made with Tia. I started having feelings.

Unspeakable emotions I knew she wouldn't accept.

It was later that a tragedy much worse than a mere company being snatched would happen to us.

A calamity that I would be the centre-point of.

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The sound of her phone alarm ringing woke Bella out of her trance. She regained composure again.

Fixing up her makeup and leaving the room.

She headed straight towards Betty's room with big strides. Opening the door without knocking.

"Betty, we have to go." Bella spoke to the girl on the computer. An expected sigh was her reply.

Only the two of them were aware what that alarm meant, and one of them wanted to keep it that way.

"You understand we're a four member squad, don't you? Just tell them we have to deal with small batches of Nether Demons regularly." Betty didn't understand why Bella was hiding it from the rest.

This was their duty. An honour of Exorcists.

"Are you going to help me or not?" Bella didn't feel the need to explain herself, so her partner-in-crime could only accept it. They made their way to the deck in order to find the place Demons attacked.

The cyborg girl let go of the oddly cute teddy bear she held onto in her room and brought her weapon.

Unlike the rest of them, Betty was 'only Human'. It wasn't natural for people like her to gain Mana.

While Sages saw Innate Gifts as an extension of strength, Humans like her required to awaken it.

Only then would they be regarded as having talent similar to 'Specialists'. Calling her a 'High Human'.

A mechanical guardian she named 'Beary Kuma' hovered behind her. Protecting her like a knight.

"There." Betty pointed at a certain place.

When Bella saw the creature on a nearby building heading towards a residential area, she opened the emergency doors and jumped out of the airship. A blank look covered Betty emotionless face to this.

'Crazy…' She cursed before hopping onto her floating mechanical guardian and going down.

On the ground level, an incident occurred that many had seen coming due to prior experience.

Citizens were originally doing their best to enjoy their times of peace until disasters were to strike.

Children and parents, shopkeepers and customers, bosses and employees. There were a lot of relationships here. Many having stable lives apart from the apocalypse that had been ongoing lately.

The first and second Eruptions changed many…

In the residential district, a creature with eyes growing on its stomach and mouth for a face suddenly jumped forth. Tendril arms surged forth violently. Destroying property without much effort.

The citizens were next.

Maybe before the first and second Eruption, these people would have lost their minds out of fear.

However, the Harmonic Theory that had become the religion of humanity itself had influenced them.

"Equip yourselves. It's only 'reasonable' that we defend ourselves until help arrives. No one is allowed any privilege here!" A random old man spoke out while taking out a standard Mystic Tool.

The performance was far from a Sacred Weapon in usage, but the fact was anyone could use them.

Women, children, and adults ranging from the young to the old all pulled out pistol-shaped Mystic Tools. They aimed before shooting at the Nether Demon while trying to hold in their emotions.

Their survival instincts and the 'reason' taught to them by the Harmonic Theory overcame fear.

Stalling the Demon long enough for Bella to arrive.

A flash of lightning could be seen by the residents of the small town before the lightning bolt landed.

Two blades were drawn out from their sheaths.

'Purple Glitter', a refined metal that was similar yet more advanced than the bat Ryan kept with him.

Along with her Sacred Weapon: 'Enoch Custom- Confessor Executioner'. A straight chokutō blade.

The wakizashi short sword of Purple Glitter and one-sided chokutō blade worked in tandem.

Severing the head of the Demon in a swift stroke.

"You should get away now…!" She talked to the citizens, who looked like they were finally free.

Running as soon as they were given the chance to.

It looked like there was more than one Nether Demon, as more appeared from the rooftop.

Three of them surrounding her.

Bella tapped her blades together and got ready to show them the sword skills learnt at the Academy.

Which was called Sambo Swordsmanship!