He spotted Sonya ovna walking out with several armed guards and her ever-present bodyguard, Handmaiden. It was a shame that Handmaiden was so devoted to Sonya, he would have loved to have her all to himself. He sighed and with a thought pulled up his guide. The progress bar was still low, he didn’t uand why. He had proven to Sonya that he had a Mythic-tier ability that erfect fhting Ishtar. He had passed the stupid interview, well, sort of. His smile widened as he gowards the other feature of his beloved power. Designed by himself, named by himself.
He snorted, Like a lie detector power would have any effee.
Still, I have to admit, she’s a challenging boss. I hate social meics. He thought darkly, But my grand ‘rise to power’ story arc is already pnned. She’ll let me join up with ASTA, eventually.
He paused and tilted his head. When did I start thinking of ovna as a person and not a thing? He tilted his head again and frowned, Odd. She isn’t that iing. He gnced down at her again and watched as she shook hands with a few of the aspirants, takira care with a pair of them. One was the girl-thing Cassiopeia Hanks, she retty and tally was reted to one of his future targets for recruitment. ve. But the guide warned him not t her sister up near her for some reason. Stupid thing. He frowned and g the other NPC.
Lilian Landrey, she had spirit and a good character personality so I was ied before her power maed on the bus. He narrowed his eyes. Something’s nht with her powers, they’re… weird. Fragmented? No. Restrained? He rubbed his , Yeah that’s it. It’s like she’s running around with trainis on her ability. Why?
He g his guide again, I just kill her a her out of the way? She’s taking up Sonya’s focus.
Tch. Fine. Dumb thing, won’t even give me alternatives. This was supposed to be easy, damn that Ishtar bitch. He chewed his thumbnail. The worst part is nothing es up when I try to do a sear her. It doesn’t make sense, does she ? That’s impossible, she tried to blow me up!
He got to his feet and the guide vanished, he made his way over to the door leading down into the on building and held his hand over the doorknob. Cheat, Unlock. He thought and the door clicked. He slipped inside and shut the door behind him. He took a breath and smelled the food cooked by the things and wrinkled his nose. He would make some for himself ter. For now, he o pn how he was going to impress Sonya more. He couldn’t overdo it, he had to py this just right. He paused and a smile crept onto his face. Or, something incredible. That dungeon ing up might be an iing twist. What if I…
–
Sonya twirled in pd set her hands on her hips, “Marta, do we have everything?” She asked.
Her stoic bodyguard nodded as the security team that Sonya had brought with her carried over a few more things out of earshot. “Yes ma’am, just waiting for the portal from Euclidia.”
Sonya let out a sigh and stretched her arms over her head, striking a bit of a pose, “Finally,” She whined, “I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now.”
Marta raised an eyebrow, “I couldn’t tell. Might it have something to do with a very remorseful but very annoying puppy that’s been following you around for the past few months?” Marta asked, tilting her head.
Sonya frowned and lowered her arms, “Weren’t you the one who suggested ning it up?”
Marta shrugged and looked away, “No idea what you’re talking about.”
Sonya narrowed her eyes, “Liar, you watched the duel, didn’t you?” She huffed and crossed her arms, “I am looking forward to seeing the city,” She ched her jaw as she tried to say ‘that’s all’ aed the tell of her throat g through the attempted lie. Marta gave her a deadpan look and Sonya turned away on her heel, tilting her head up, “Just let me have this, please?”
She sensed Marta’s gentle smile behind her and khat she was just trying to be supportive but Sonya had set her mind oter. Especially after that duel. Her heart sank a little. Even a little ni the neck would have been enough to start moving in the right dire. Something. Some kind of follow through. She was so close. I was so happy for a moment there. She g Marta, She must have seen, nosy little... Sonya thought bitterly before letting out a sharp breath and spping herself on the cheeks with both hands. Nope! We’re going to Europe! Out of mind! Out of mind! Nope nope nope!
She turned baarta and shoved a hand in her pocket before reag up thteie and pull the sungsses out of her coat pocket. She flicked them open with a flourish and slid them on, grinning. “This is going to be a fun trip, mark my words, Marta!”
Marta gave her another heartwarming smile and walked over to give Sonya a one-armed hug, “Of course, you deserve it.”
Sonya pressed her lips together and looked away, shrinking a little in the embrace, “Marta, people are watg.” She said in the coyest shy-girl voice she could manage.
Marta pulled away and scowled, “You’re incible,” Marta chided her.
Sonya grinned and opened her mouth for another witty retort when the ground trembled behind her. She gnced over her shoulder and saw the smooth gray stone of Euclidia’s portal rising up from the ground. The archway rose up and up until it was a good eight feet tall. A momehe spa the ter of the arch bent and twisted, colpsing in on itself and flickering with images of a strange pce beyond. The Bas. Finally it settled and she could smell the air of the hernds wash through before a dark public square came into view, seamlessly starting where the path at her feet ended in the archway. Hell, she could even see people walking by.
Sonya raised her eyebrows, Damn, mine aren’t this good. I got shown up by the inal it seems. She smirked, Guess I need more practice.
Behind her, Marta o the security team who went through first. All of them wore the insignia of the ASTA corporation rather than the Pandora ittee and carried anti-monster munitions in their ASTA brand firearms. They quickly spread out oher side of the portal and started assessing their surroundings before Marta went i. The guards and Marta carried the majority of the luggage before setting it down beside the portal. Sonya just had her suitcase. She gripped it befng back at the on building. Some of the aspirants were waving, she waved back at them. o them she spotted Amos and who her. They’re going to have fun, she thought before her attentioo the dojo.
She stood there at the entrance, just watg, she didn’t wave but she did meet her eyes. Sonya took a deep breath and looked away, Seeing me off like that… idiot. She thought and turned back to the portal, raising her head high and stepping towards it.
“Onwards too…”
She stepped through.
“...Europe!” She decred and the archway began to desd into the ground behind her. She took a deep inhation of the fresh air of The Hague and gnced over at Marta who was giving her a dubious look, “The only way to travel, am I right?” She asked with a ugh and rolled her shoulders. She looked down at the portal as it finished desding into the ground a relief wash through her. It tingled and stung a little, a tension in her chest she had fotten about unraveled and her shoulders went sck. She threw her head bad let out a noisy groan.
“Finally! Free at st!” She whined and threw her hands up into the air, “Hello hernds! Sonya ovna is here!”
Marta sighed, “Sonya, it's the middle of the night here.”
Sonya gri her and gnced around, “Yeah? But there are still people out!” She ughed and slipped past her, peering at some of the tourists and locals who were walking around. A few stopped to stare. “Ooh, she’s cute,” Sonya grinned lecherously and straightened her tie, flig her sungsses up and turning up the glow of her eyes just a little bit for aesthetics, “Marta, if you’ll excuse me I’ll be-”
“Nope!” Marta grunted and grabbed Sonya uhe arms.
“Hey!” Sonya protested, kig her feet.
“You’ve been here less than a minute and you’re already on the prowl,” Marta grumbled, “What am I going to do with you?”
“Let me go and stop being unfairly tall?” Sonya asked, gng over her shoulder at Marta with an impish smile.
Marta returhe smile with a dark grin of her own, “Not going to happen.”
Sonya went deadweight and whined, “But why?” She pouted.
“Because the ittee vehicle will be here in a few moments and I don’t want to let you out of my sight. Also, you have someone waiting for you over there and I doubt you want to look silly in front of her,” Marta said patiently and gnced in a dire Sonya hadn’t looked yet. Sonya turned her head slowly and followed her gaze. Her limp limbs went even more sck when she saw the pair standing near a flower dispy, the sea glittering in the moonlight behind them. Sonya nodded slowly and Marta let her down.
“Thanks,” Sonya said a little stiffly.
“Don’t be nervous,” Marta teased.
Sonya squi her and opened her mouth only for her throat to ch a little. She scowled at the woman who gri her.
“Totally nervous,” Marta said and pat her back. “Go on.”
Sonya straightened herself up a bit more and gave Marta one more look before nodding and walking over. She felt some nerves in her gut as she did, pulling her hair back a bit and turning down the glow on her eyes to a less intimidating, ‘hey you wanna go somewhere more fortable?’ glow. She crossed the distand stopped in front of the pair. The middle aged woman tht ined her head.
“Miss ovna, it’s wonderful to see you,” Bera Lucci said pleasantly.
Sonya smiled at her, “Bera, how are things? Did you enjoy meeting our mutual friend in Vegas?” She asked.
“It was a very pleasant visit, I got to see the memorial garden as well, your people did a wonderful job,” Bera said.
Sonya smiled, “Good to hear,” firmation that the club is doing well with it’s expansion, anyway, I’d rather not think about that pce if I have to. She thought before turning to the other person standing there. Pretty as a button wearing her slightly longer hair up in a bun and a stylish blouse and shirred pant ikay was smiling at her with a glitter in her eyes with all the gentle warmth in the world.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Mikay said with a glowing smile, “Thank you for inviting us.”
Sonya couldn’t hold herself baymore, “You look fabulous!” Sonya said delightedly, ing in for a chaste hug before pulling bad looking her over. “I’ve missed you, how’ve you been?” She asked.
Mikya ughed, “I’m fine! Better than fine, I see you’re wearing my earrings,” She pointed out, tilting her head and squinting at the side of Sonya’s head.
“Oh you noticed?” Sonya said, “I might have been keeping an eye on your colle.”
Mikay’s smile faltered a little and she tilted her head, her eyes holding in them, “How are you, Sonya, really?”
Sonya shrank a bit beh that gaze but recovered, “I’m better, some things have been troubling but,” She reached up and rubbed her neck, “I’ve learned a lot about myself after we broke up,” She admitted, “A lot. I have a partner!” Sonya said enthusiastically, “I also realized that I have a bit of a problem with monogamy,” She added, scratg her nose, “Which she’s fih. We, we’re doing good. We had that talk I should have had with-” She trailed off, and looked dowing her hands fall away from Mikay’s arms, “-with you.”
A pair of arms ed around her and gave her a big squeeze, “I’m so, so proud of you,” She said into Sonya’s shoulder before pulling bad looking at her with tears glittering in her eyes, “I’m relieved. Are you going to have a little fun while you’re here?”
Sonya rubbed her hat’s the hope,” Sonya said with a wicked grin, “I might have almost gotten myself in trouble at the hero training camp.”
“Sonya!” Mikay gasped.
Sonya ughed, “Easy! I’ve already gottehird degree from Marta and Car,” Sonya said with a wave of her hands, “I’m behaving!”
Mikay gave her a dubious look before breaking into a smile, “Good. I’m gd,” She said befng past Sonya, “Looks like your ride is here.”
Sonya gnced over her shoulder and groaned, “A motorcade, really?” She whined as seven dark vehicles drove up to the square, drawing even more attention than the handful of armed guards, ASTA CEO, and the famous hero Handmaiden. People were starting to pull out phones and cameras, a few pointing in the dire of Mikay ata. Sonya frowned and g Marta who nodded. She turned baikay, “Want to go see the new Pandora ittee headquarters?” She asked.
Mikay blinked, “Um… is that allowed?”
“I’ll smooth out the details whe there,” Sonya chirped and grabbed her hand, “, let's get away from here!” She ughed and dragged a fbbergasted Mikay towards the middle car of the motorcade. As she did she passed Marta and gave her a look, “Keep a.”
I will not allow another Florence.