[November 9th, 2013]

When she could, Ryumi only took contracts by herself or with her husband. She did not see much need for social interaction; most people did not have Magnus's depth, and she distrusted anyone else who willingly approached her anyhow.

She had her gas mask made before she arrived in Penfort. It was purple to match Worldwide's flames, and she was chasing him by the start of the night. This host would be the last she would kill before Moscow next month, though her husband's plan for that trip stressed her.

'Going to fire acid.' she thought as she chased her target down the street, homes flanking the two. Worldwide's scarabs swarmed her as red tendrils burst out of the man's back, and as they spit acid towards her -

- she burst in to purple flames; and in to green clouds burst the acid, bubbles of ice forming around her to swallow every last.

Magnus theorized that she had the strongest fire Revenant in the world. She wondered if he cried when she left for Penfort, but the man ahead swept to a lawn to his right, rushing & stumbling through a home's front door.

She heard a scream of terror as she halted at the sidewalk, and the man came out with a male&female hostage.

"You want their blood on your hands?!" shouted the man, grey tendrils from his shoulders danger close to their throats.

"You've already killed a thousand." grunted Ryumi. "I'll kill two to prevent a thousand more. Worldwide - Sun Ray!"

She swept her hands forward; a blue beam erupted from her palms and shot forward -

- and the scorching ray disintegrated the two innocent & one not in an instant, not a single ash left as it set the home ablaze.

Out of her right eye's corner, she saw a boy rushing down the sidewalk; but few could match her speed. Knowing she'd be reprimanded if the murder was linked to her badge, she rushed down the sidewalk left, then past the corner.

She realized she'd left a few scarabs behind on the last Ray, and sighed as she took her gas mask & badge off, still running. They'd detonate once she went out of range, but the only member of the Eastern League who cared less about civilian casualties was Akira, and Nikolai had scolded her plenty of times. Magnus & her joked that once she saved the world next month, he'd get on her case if one leaf in Russia was out of place. A man of some wisdom, he spoke several languages and negotiated terms for the Eastern League to operate in ten countries, eight of which Ryumi was banned.

Eventually she stopped and took her phone out.

"Queen of Scarabs, requesting FTL."

One of Worldwide's scarabs brushed against her neck and one finger pet it. She thought about what she would ask her husband to make for dinner tonight; he had been too caught up in his research recently.

◆◆◆

She awoke in a hospital bed with Makoto standing over her. She was still panicking and felt weak. Makoto said something to the four seated along the wall, and they rushed over to her.

"We're still in Penfort." said Marisa. "Um, did you get him? Sorry to ask so quick, but we didn't see him."

"W-Water." A low whine of pain passed Mia, and Grant passed her an empty cup.

"Do you need it filled? Since you have your scarabs for water?"

"P-Please." said Mia. "P-P-Please fill it up for me."

"I - alright, yeah." Grant walked out to the hall as Marisa leaned by Mia's ear. Tears formed in Mia's eyes.

"H-Hey, Mia-Mia…" whispered Marisa. "Do you want them to leave? You were hurt really bad."

"P-Please."

Marisa gestured to the others and they left. Mia burst in to tears as she sat up, clutching Marisa tight.

"I - hey, Mia-Mia - it's okay, it's okay…" She laid her head on Mia's shoulder. "Um, the dog's okay."

"O-One bit of good news." (Marisa gave her the traditional Boudoir-tissue, and she blew in to it.) "M-Marisa, my-my sword broke. I-I don't want to summon Worldwide again, I-I don't want to risk that happening - I-I nearly died when I tried to freeze it and when I killed Era s-something happened a-and-"

"- h-hey, one thing at a time, okay?" Marisa pulled away. "Deep breaths, okay? Do you want me to call Aimee?"

"I-I need to f-find out why that h-happened, o-or-"

"-okay." said Marisa, nodding. "Okay. We'll leave as - we'll leave as soon as you're feeling better, okay? Hirogane will know what to do."

Mia nodded, her spirit & bacteria sinking back in to the bed.

◆◆◆

The following evening, Mia still feared Worldwide as they went to the entrance of the airport. Grant & Sylvia would stay behind for a week, as was customary. She hadn't tried to summon Worldwide since it happened and did not want to think what might have occurred to it. That Magnus had given it to her reassured her it wasn't an intentional flaw, but Marisa had asked to keep her mind from it until they came back to Urasaria.

They exchanged hugs with Grant & Sylvia, and, as Marisa turned away to leave, she glanced back and saw Grant whisper something to Sylvia; who nervously shook her head and smiled at Marisa. What this was she did not know, and she was soon interrupted by Makoto tapping her shoulder, asking if she could speak with her privately.

Suppressing her annoyance, she stepped off as Mia went in to the airport alone.

"…so, um…" said Makoto, twisting her fingers. "I… realized that I really upset you, and - I didn't mean to, but I ended up coming on way too strong, and - I'm sorry. I shouldn't have, uh, acted like how I did, and - yeah."

Marisa nodded.

"And I know I shouldn't have sent you the - stuff I was sending you, and - I made you uncomfortable, and I'm sorry." said Makoto. "Seriously. I know I screwed up, and I'm sorry."

Marisa smiled. "…I'm sorry what I said about you, too. The part about you being a creep, and… yeah. T-That was really low, and not true, either." She stood un-straight. "But, um, yeah. Good. I forgive you, and you forgive me. Let's go catch our flight."

"Wait." said Makoto, grabbing her shoulder before she could walk off. "I… I just wanted to say, I think we really got off on to the wrong foot, too, though. I'd really like it if you could give me a second chance."

Marisa just stared at her. Her fingers gnarled without her realizing it. Men from her teenage years seemed to thin her gaze, and her sight became past-tense as her chest tensed with rages she had not revisited in years.

"You know what, Makoto? One of the reasons I don't like dating is because of people like you who think that just because you want to fuck me means you get to treat me like I'm some fucking statue."

"Hey, all I said was -"

" - no, you listen to me, because you clearly didn't listen the first time! I felt bad after what I said to you, but you know what? You still trying to come back after, after I was ready to accept your fucking apology - it makes me so fucking mad I could fucking strangle you right now. I know you think I'm just some fucking bimbo with big tits, but I have a thousand times more self-respect than to ever let myself get to such an awful point in my life where I would wind up with someone like *you.* And by the way, I could tell from the start all of your little fucking tricks you thought were flattering me, because unlike you, I'm not as fucking stupid as you or anyone else thinks I am. I swear to fucking god, if you ever try to… I swear to fucking god I'll, I'll..."

She stomped away.

◆◆◆

Mia went to see Hirogane immediately when she came back, and Marisa relayed it. Aimee was by her bed too, though none of them knew why it'd happened.

"Alright." murmured Hirogane. "Go ahead. Marisa - clear out, and Aimee…"

"Got Rider. Anything goes bad, I'll keep us safe."

Marisa cleared out, and Mia took a deep breath.

"W-Worldwide."

The golden sword formed in her right hand, and she sighed in relief to see it repaired.

"See?" chimed Aimee. "All good. Nothing to worry about."

"Not yet." muttered Hirogane. "Said it happened when you used ice. Risky idea, but - try fire."

A fire scarab flew in to its rightful inset -

- and the sword melted to liquid.

Agony shoved her unconscious.

◆◆◆◆◆◆

She woke up screaming -

" - it's alright, it's alright!" shouted Hirogane, pressing her back. "I know what it is - quiet! - for a second. Sheesh. You'll be alright."

"A-Alright?! I can't use my sword -"

" - yet. Quiet for a second."

"It sounds like this is what's going on, Schultzy." said Aimee, rubbing her shoulder. "Just listen, okay? I love you."

"…I-I love you too." panted Mia. "What - what is it, Hirogane?"

Hirogane handed Mia a glass of water. "I looked it up while you were unconscious. Has to do with the … we'll say … unique conditions of your Revenant. Normally, before they're transferred…" He pinched his brow. "…Mia, you know how Revenants grow stronger, right? They still teach that?"

"Of - of course. As - as they're used, the heart begins increasing its production of Volgari proteins, and new generations of bacteria are born to strengthen the -"

" - alright, you passed that exam, I get it." Hirogane's head shook. "S'right. And when professionals die, their Revenants are given Xenocyclin to kill most of their bacteria, to make sure the new host can accommodate it. Apparently, a certain dreadnought never gave you that chemical, and they never gave it to his wife, either. You can still use Worldwide, once you're calm. I'm not going to force you to take it, but if you don't have Xenocyclin used on it, it might kill *you* the next time it goes out of control."

The water in Mia's glass began shuddering. "Wouldn't Xenocyclin wipe my own progress?"

"It would."

Mia looked down, and tapping her chest, attempted to construct a motivation for Worldwide's condition from what she knew of the headless man, who seemed only silhouette now.

[END OF ARC: THE END OF AN ERA]