Hope born of solitus

*

"So what's our first step...?" (Arin)

"There's no first step." (Lastia)

A mysterious black line spreads across they sky like a big zipper.

"Huh...? Seriously? I thought you at least had a plan... " (Sariel)

Anyone from around the globe could spot the line, being able to see it from ground level meant that it was so abnormally large... That its mere presence sparks a deep unease in the average person. Meanwhile...

" Oi! This was my plan! To gather you guys here and discuss possible leads! I'll handle documentation, you guys can do field work and planning." (Lastia)

The black line fidgets a little in the sky, the movement was so imperceptibly small, yet it covers massive distances in an instance. As if a hole to space had opened in the atmosphere, it was gradually widening and contracting.

"It sounds like you just wanted us to do the work!" (Sariel)

"Uwah.... I didn't expect you to be so sleazy, taking my heart and then exploiting it..." (Arin)

"Muguh!" (Lastia)

"Wait... W-what is that...?" (Arin)

Arin and Sariel was facing Lastia who stood in front of the rooftop's entrance to the staircase. Right behind Lastia, that which is floating in the sky... The black line spanning across an immense area... Began branching out like cracks in a concrete wall.

"A... A hole?" (Sariel)

The cracks in the sky open up like a maw, exposing a deep abyss devoid of stars. It rapidly expands apart, as if something on the other side was clawing the opening further apart. Prompted by Sariel's strange remark, I turned around and looked at the sky. It looked back.

What could only be described as a deep dark crack more devoid of light than the empty expanse of space, a big and singular eyeball stares back. No, it isn't necessarily looking at me. It's size was so gargantuan that gazing at the earth made it seem like it was staring directly at everyone, its pupils acted in a manner akin to the sun. The massive mass of white conjunctiva floated in that space effortlessly, as if it had belonged there all this time, as if these cracks opening to another world we're the most natural thing in the world.

Many people froze to the spot, it was natural. That's when it happened. A flash of light sparked for a moment, zooming through the air as it flew straight into the pupil of the eye. Another flash of light, this time it was dazzling and blinding. The world was caught by a flood of white for an instant, then it went silent as indiscriminate destruction rained upon the eye. Smoke flooded from the crack, obscuring the eye peaking out.

"... Magic!" (Sariel)

"A magical girl from another school... To think there would be someone this strong..." (Lastia)

As if a few stars were born on the spot, the sky lit up with various sources of blinding light. Each followed with an individual explosion that seemed to shake the heavens. The cracks began to rumble vigorously... Followed by a rain of unknown white mass. A white substance... The conjunctiva of the massive eye from before, they fall through the crack in chunks and fly off at unnatural angles. In fact, one was even headed our way.

"Watch out. It's a Trace." (Arin)

"Way ahead of you." (Sariel)

Her figure flashes and disappears. Looking forward far off in the sky, a small and familiar speck appeared. Sariel had swapped places with the air far away and launched an ambush on the conjunctiva chunk. No... These things are no longer the corpse of that giant eye, they have gained their own will and thirst for humanity's destruction. They are a brand new species of Traces;

"Gazing corpse." (Lastia)

Something simple is fine. As long as we knew what we were talking about.

"Is that a name you just came up with? Pupupu, how lame~" (Arin)

"Arin, we should give Sariel some back up. This doesn't look like something we can get out of. They need all the help they can get." (Lastia)

"... Uhm... I'm weak, so you go on ahead. I'll support from the back." (Arin)

I ignored her teasing earlier, initially I was planning on holding it in and getting her back later... But now I don't feel like it. This isn't something I can force on someone else, if she was acting up because she was nervous then it can't be helped.

"Hmm... Alright. Don't think I forgot what you said about my naming sense! I'll get you back later." (Lastia)

I turned back around, the large crack was still floating in the sky. It feels like the world is ending with how a bunch of Traces are attacking people. Whoever caused the explosion before must have ran out of energy, they dealt the main blow so they deserve support right now. However... How do I get there in time? It's so far away... Right... I have her!

Sariel is too far away to hear me now, but she'll understand. A warm feeling wells up in my core like a rush of hot air, spreading to the rest of my body and enveloping my body in blazing brilliance. My two piece uniform transforms. My blackish purple dress peaks out from the fragments of shattered light filling the air, dissipating after my transformation. She'll recognise this sensation, this unique stimulation that only my magic gives.

"{Feed}." (Lastia)

I swallow all of the magical energy in the surrounding air instantly. A loosely scarlet and translucent light fills the rooftop, causing the flaps of my dress to flutter lightly. As I only absorb more magical energy, I won't ever run out as long as I'm using my magic to {Feed}. I draw back my arm, bending my elbow and tensing my knuckles. The scenery changes, I can now see the white mass up close. It's akin to a boulder of chalk with large eyes, wings and a jaw that spanned its entire height, the stuff of nightmares for a child.

I launched my fist forward, releasing all of the tension. A cracked formed from its flesh and it crumbled like a stack of biscuits.

"Fufu, these things are as durable as the goblin type Traces you fought once. It looks like you've become strong enough to beat them in one shot." (Sariel)