Period 18: Evangel and Averruncus

A magic circle appeared at Mero's feet, and her uniform materialized on her body.

"It seems you weren't lying; we can use magic here." She said examining her clothes. Evangeline grinned.

"Of course. I don't lie." She waved her hand. "Evocem vos". [Come forth] A magic circle appeared on the floor and out of it, emerged a bottle of red wine and a pair of glasses.

"What are you doing?" Mero asked.

"What does it look like? I'm having a drink." She said pouring herself a glass. "You're welcome to it of course. Actually, are you even old enough to drink?" She shrugged. "Well, this is just an illusion anyway." She said folding her legs under her.

Swish

An arrow of water shot through the air and shattered the bottle. Evangeline frowned.

"Illusion or not, there's no need to waste good wine."

"Enough of this nonsense. What do you want with me?" Mero snapped.

"Ha, me?" Evangeline scoffed. "You're the one who invaded my dream."

"So that was real then? It wasn't just an illusion you conjured to fool me?"

Evangeline stiffened uncomfortably, and her teasing smile vanished.

"You're just a regular peeping Tom aren't you?" She said swiveling her wine. "But yes, that was real. At least as far as I can remember."

Mero was silent for a moment before responding.

"You, who are you really?" Mero asked. "The mahou-net calls you a villain, but the girl I just saw was-

"Was what?" Evangeline cut her off. "Innocent? A victim? Does that mean I can't be a villain? Don't worry, there is plenty of blood on my hands."

Mero couldn't help but notice she wasn't smiling. She didn't understand facial expressions very well, but even she could tell this was very odd for Evangeline.

"B-But why are you at Mahora?"

"Infernus Scholasticus." [School Hell]

"That silly curse?" Mero wondered. Infernus Scholasticus was a simple spell designed to force truants to attend school. It binds the victim to a school and prevents them from moving a certain distance away from it. Ordinarily a vampire as powerful as Evangeline should have no problem breaking it, but Mahora has multiple layers of protective wards and barriers around it. That must be it. The barriers that stop enemies from entering, were also suppressing her magic. "I see, so that's what you meant, when you said you wanted to escape. Nagi Springfield sealed you here, didn't he?"

"What about you?" Evangeline said, taking a sip of wine. "Why did you come to this school?"

". . ."

Evangeline shrugged.

"I suppose you aren't under any obligation to tell me. I was only making conversation. Of course I'm not obligated to answer any of your questions either."

"The world tree." Mero said softly.

"Oh. I admit I didn't really expect you to tell me. So, the world tree huh? I should have known it was something like that. I assume you want to use it as a weapon, or maybe you're trying to access the other founts of magic around the world?"

". . ."

"Sorry, sorry, Its your turn to ask a question now isn't it? But to be honest with you, I don't have much more to tell. In fact you saw my memories." She forced a smile. "You are now in possession of information almost no one else in the world has. Consider yourself lucky brat. I'd usually kill anyone who tried to get that intimate with me."

"But why are you trying to escape in the first place? What are you going to do once you have all your powers back?"

"The very first thing I'll do," Evangeline said, "is get some gelato."

Mero blinked. What was that, some sort of magical artifact? She'd never heard of it. Perhaps it was the name of an ancient demon god soldier she was trying to resurrect. But the name didn't appear anywhere in her data bank.

"Gel. . .?"

"Oh, could it be you don't know it? It's a frozen dessert from Italy. I've been craving it for a few years now."

". . . What?"

"Did you know there's not a single store on campus that sells it? I asked the old man several times, but he said there was no room in the budget to add a whole new store just because I asked."

". . ." Mero just listened dumbstruck as Evangeline talked.

"And after I've done that, who knows?"

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that?" Mero scoffed. "You're the dark Evangel, an evil witch who's feared in the entire magic world."

"I won't deny that." She swallowed some more of her wine. "Look here's one thing you need to understand about us 'evil' mages. We're not all out to take over the world, or wipe out humanity. I just want to be left alone. I only do what I feel like doing, nothing more, nothing less."

"You said you didn't care what I did."

"And I meant it. I couldn't care less what happens to this school. Although I admit, you have piqued my curiosity. I've never seen a doll as well made as you."

Mero bit her lip.

"As I thought, you are the worst kind of person, Evangeline McDowell."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hit a nerve? I promise I meant it as a compliment."

"I thought that maybe we could come to some sort of understanding. But you care only for yourself. Someone like that could never join our cause."

"Is that so?" Evangeline said narrowing her eyes. "And what cause is that?"

"We will save the world." She answered confidently.

"Now I'm even more curious." Evangeline chuckled. "Though I doubt you would tell me even if I asked."

"I cannot allow a dangerous unknown variable like you continue to do whatever you wish."

"I figured you would say something like that." Evangeline sighed. "But I wonder, can you even make that decision? In fact, does your master even know that you're here?"

"Mrk." Mero shrank back.

"Ha, ha, I thought so. Did your master calibrate you at all? Well, that's fine too. Dolls that are too obedient are just boring."

"Shut up!" Mero shouted. "And don't call me that!"

"Why does that word set you off so much? What's wrong with being a doll?"

"I am NOT a doll!" Mero roared.

"Again, I meant it as a compliment. Compared to humans, dolls are much more honest and-"

"Graaaah!" Mero thrust her hand forward and shot out a stream of high pressure water. Evangeline made no attempt to dodge as the spell closed in on her.

Bssssh!

There was an impact and the water sprayed across the bridge. When the mist dissipated, Evangeline hadn't moved at all. She was just sitting there surrounded by the violet light of her magic barrier, which had strengthened and become visible in response to the attack. With the immediate danger past the light began to fade.

"I take it we're done talking then?" She sighed. "Oh well I suppose some light exercise is good once in a while." She drained her glass and stood up.

"Are you mocking me?" Mero started to gather magical power into her hand. "I'll make you regret it."

"Oooh, scary scary. Maybe I'll get a little serious then." Evangeline raised her hand, a whole wall of magic circles appeared in the air behind her, and a giant spear of ice emerged from each one. They were each about ten feet long, with sharp points and barbs along their length.

Mero looked up at the array of spears pointed at her, and scoffed.

"Am I supposed to be intimidated?"

"Laculatio Grandinis." [Hailstone spears] Evangeline flicked her wrist and the projectiles rained down on her opponent. The spears shattered the pavement sending up waves of dirt and concrete. A moment later, Mero soared out of the dust cloud completely unharmed.

It's true, that power was far greater than the other night. Her magic really has been restored. She started to gain altitude, and flew in a wide arc. But the fool doesn't realize that the same goes for me.

"Vishu tal li shujal vangeit," Two streams of water rose from the lake and wrapped around her hands. She angled her body downwards, trying to aim for Evangeline's back, but she was already gone.

"Wha-"

Before she could even finish that thought, the vampire came up right beside her and swung at her. Mero dropped backwards as Evangeline's nails passed about a half an inch above her face.

"Good job dodging that." Evangeline snickered as she thrust her other hand into her neck.

"Gah!"

With her fingers wrapped tightly around Mero's throat, she dove toward the ground. She slammed her into the pavement with a resounding crash. Evangeline raised her arm, and her fingernails extended into sharp claws. Mero gasped as Evangeline put her hand through her stomach.

"Oops, maybe that was a little too much?" Mero's body dissolved into water. "A decoy?" Before she could pull her hand back, the water rose up and enveloped her.

"Vinctum de aqua!" [Prison of water] Mero cried after emerging from a puddle behind her.

The liquid formed into a semi-solid cube around her, and pressed on her body from all sides.

Heh, heh, she really got me good. Evangeline thought to herself. I can't move a single finger. However. . .

"Contere!" [Crush] Mero clapped her hands together, and squeezed her opponent tighter and tighter. "There's no way she can escape that. Now I just need to find a way to transport her. No, before I have to escape this dream world."

A huge dark figure rose out of the shadows behind Mero. She jumped out of the way, just as a giant wooden fist slammed into the ground. When she turned around she was staring at a giant wooden puppet. It was vaguely humanoid, but it had no facial features, and three arms on either side, which were now clenched into fists and poised to attack her.

"A wood golem?" She said dodging in and out of its attacks. "Evangeline must be controlling it, but where did it come from?" She looked down at the dark shadows swirling around its feet. "Shadow teleportation? She managed such an advanced spell in this situation?"

She jumped into the air to avoid one of the giants punches, but it reached out with its free hand and grabbed her by the ankle.

"Damn!"

She was pulled down to the pavement, and assaulted by a vicious flurry of punches. The blows were not heavy enough to damage her, they barely hurt, but she was pinned down and couldn't escape the grasp of the puppet.

Then, one of the puppet's arms unhinged at the elbow. The arm became the barrel of a cannon, as magic power gathered inside it.

"Vinctum de aqua!" [Prison of water]

The water released Evangeline and flew towards her golem, trapping it in its own liquid prison.

"Contere!" [Crush]

The water prison shrank,, and squeezed the puppet until its body shattered.

"My, my, you certainly play rough don't you?" Said Evangeline walking up behind her. "Didn't anyone ever teach you to take better care of your toys?"

"Toys?!"

"That's right. Let me introduce you to some more of my cute little dollies."

She waved her hand and dozens of new puppets emerged from the shadows. These dolls were all human sized. They were nearly identical to Chachamaru, and all dressed in French maid outfits.

"Don't think your puppets will be enough to protect you. Evocatio undine!" [Evocation of Undines]

Dozens of water spirits appeared behind her. Each dressed in armor and wielding a spear.

"Ku, ku, I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." Evangeline chuckled. This is starting to get fun. Come on, let's play a little longer, Mero Averuncus!"