Chapter 10: Lost Logia
Western Sudentor Forest, Sudentor state, 3.30 p.m.
Teana walked through the snowy forest, carrying nothing but a backpack of supplies and Cross Mirage. She looked into the sky and took a deep breath before letting it out.
“I wonder why I never joined the rebellion earlier on,” she muttered to herself.
It has been nearly 5 hours since she last rested and Teana was feeling fatigued. She sat under a tree and munched on some energy bars while enjoying the scenery. She hadn’t been in the Western Sudentor Forest for years now and she was glad that the forest remains unscathed from the war. Wildlife still thrived here and the animals were friendly just as the trees were welcoming. Teana can’t help but feel relaxed.
“If only Subaru were here,” Teana said with a sad sigh.
Some snow drifted onto her shoes and Teana just watched quietly, mesmerized by it. She suddenly came back to reality and quickly finished her energy bar. Teana left off in such a hurry that she forgotten something…she and Subaru’s friendship picture. She had been carrying it all along to remind herself of her friendship with Subaru. Funnily, it was that picture of her and Subaru that led Teana to a change in heart. She realized that being loyal to an army who was against her believes was just pure foolishness. She should know better then to serve Hayate and her army of scrap metal. It was just wrong. Deeper into the forest, Teana consulted her map and shook her head.
“This isn’t right, my map indicates that there is a Lost Logia here but I see nothing. Maybe it’s hidden under the snow,” she said to herself.
She began digging the snow surrounding her and the animals watched her curiously. Teana dug and dug until she hit solid ground and continued digging. After an hour, she was frustrated.
“Stupid map, maybe the EMP made it go bonkers,” she muttered.
Teana paced up and down while trying to understand what the map was telling her. Suddenly, she tripped over something and she fell flat into the ground, biting her tongue.
“Ow, I’m gonna get an ulcer for that! Stupid piece of rock!” she yelled angrily while turning around to look at the rock she tripped over.
It wasn’t a rock and Teana noticed it had a red aura about it. She dug it out from the ground and analyzed it.
“The Orb of Domination, an orb that allows the user limitless power without ever feeling fatigued, though it may stress the body if used for long periods. The Ancient Belkans once used these orbs to conquer their enemies with ease but the hazard it has on them were fatal. Many died of internal hemorrhaging while others suffered from short of breath and cardiovascular failure. The orbs were disposed of but only a few survived over the centuries,” Teana read out from the holographic text.
She looked at the orb and kept it.
“Rather interesting piece of thing. Maybe that is why Hayate wanted it,” Teana said.
Suddenly, something caught her eyes. It was moving in the shadows. Teana activated Cross Mirage and took aim at the fast-moving shadow.
“Crossfire Shoot!” Teana yelled.
She shot ten magic spheres towards the shadow. The shadow moved but Teana guided her attacks towards the shadow and hit it. The shadow seemed to get knocked backwards by the attack but quickly recovered. It wasn’t hiding among the forest shadows anymore and Teana could see the attacker perfectly well.
“You have a sharp sense, Lanster,” the assailant said.
“You almost got me, Dasha,” Teana replied.
The Combat Cyborg dusted some snow off her suit and smiled maliciously at Teana. Teana was just stared back.
“So, I was told that a traitor went out to look for a Lost Logia and seems like Miss Hayate was right. I’m sure you know the penalty for those who betray their own people,” Dasha said, her green hair fluttering in the wind.
“I’m not betraying my people, I’m going back to them,” Teana said.
“According to the TSAB law, anyone who betrayed the TSAB will be executed, no matter the ranking. You just earn yourself a death warrant, Lanster,” Dasha said evilly.
“Perhaps what I said was too complicated for you, Dasha. I belong to the rebels, the true TSAB. You guys are nothing but cold-blooded underdogs. Compared to someone with flesh and blood, you metal scraps are small fries,” Teana mocked.
“You have a rather big mouth for a girl with a low rank,” Dasha said angrily.
“At least that proves I can talk better than you even if it is trash talk,” Teana said lamely.
“Then maybe I’ll enjoy slitting your throat,” Dasha said and she took out her twin energy daggers.
“C’mon, I got your number,” Teana said and brandished her weapon as well.
Back at Glatisant, Fate pondered what Teana had recorded in the data crystal. They had all heard the recording but could not make any sense of it.
“Maybe she’s trying to tell us that Hayate is merely testing our abilities,” Chrono started.
“If it is, that does not explain why the Terrans were dragged into this,” Carim said.
“Or if it is really necessary to recruit a villain to be Chief of Staff,” Subaru continued while drumming her fingers on the table.
“Think about it, before this everyone debated about the use of machines to replace the existing fighting force. Who better to create cyborgs and androids than Jail Scaglietti?” Chrono asked.
“True but I’m sure there are other scientists who create machines like that as well,” Carim said.
“I know but there is no one who can really match Jail’s skills. An army functions better if its units are top notch and that is what Jail makes: Top notch cyborgs and androids,” Subaru replied.
“Hayate couldn’t help but recruit him. However, we still don’t understand why Earth was invaded,” Shari exclaimed.
“I did a research on resource comparing and found that Earth has more resource than our planet. Let’s say if Mid-Childa has been depleted of her resources and the other worlds are held by rebels, where would the TSAB go to get more resources?” Chrono asked.
“They can just attack the rebels if they wanted to,” Subaru said.
“They can but to gain easy conquest, the TSAB attacked an unsuspecting planet and that is Earth. The planet did not expect an invasion and naturally, it fell easily and the resources are free for the taking,” Chrono explained.
He opened a holographic video and showed the Terran military fighting the TSAB in multiple combats over the world ranging from America to the African Continent.
“However, they didn’t expect its inhabitants to put up fierce resistance. They’ll be denied resources as long as the Terrans hold,” Shari said grimly.
“Hayate is in an advantage and disadvantage. She has the power over the TSAB to carry out her plans but her army does not have the fighting spirit as our army, though androids are emotionless and fearless,” Carim said.
“We can only speculate these two events. Now, the main question arrives. Why is Hayate doing it?” Chrono asked.
“That is a hard question because unlike most villains who simply want to conquer the world, Hayate wants to divide the world into two factions. No other criminals or villains have such an objective, not even during the Belkan reign,” Subaru said.
“Any possible speculations?” Shari asked.
Everyone in the meeting room couldn’t answer it. They just stared at each other.
“Well, I’m not sure if it is plausible but according to Teana’s statement, she said Hayate had a change and she was seen filling up the Book of Darkness. Sometimes she heard her saying that she wanted to change the world for the greater good, sometimes saying that she wanted power and only the most powerful shall rein the world,” Subaru said.
“I was wondering that somehow the Book of Darkness had been corrupted by the same viral creature that made such a hullabaloo many years ago (Nanoha A’s). Fate, do you know something that we don’t?” Chrono asked Fate.
Fate snapped from her daydreaming and cleared her throat in embarrassment.
“Yes, I do remember that viral creature that caused much havoc. The original Reinforce said that in order to destroy the virus forever, she must sacrifice herself. She did but I only fear that the virus may not be entirely destroyed. Somehow it survived,” Fate said grimly.
Chrono drummed his finger on the table, disturbed by that thought.
“If what you say came true, we’re in for another dark period. If we destroy Hayate’s book, she might lose her powers along with the Wolkenritters. Hayate might be corrupted and now the virus maybe in control of her. She may retain some of her controls but much of her thoughts are driven by the same virus that controlled her last time,” Carim said.
“Another weakness of technology and magic combined. Computer programs can be affected by viruses and that is the same for technological magic devices,” Subaru muttered.
“Can this hypothesis be accepted? I want a show of hands,” Chrono said.
No one raised their hands because they were not really confident of it. It is possible but it is also possible that Hayate had a hidden lust for power rather than being corrupted by her book.
“I guess there aren’t any agreements here,” Fate said.
“Fate, as much as I want to, I have a lingering feeling that Hayate is traumatized by the 108th division incident. It can be another possibility,” Carim said.
“She wanted to divide the world into two factions because of that? What is the sense in it?” Shari asked incredulously.
“Look, not all in the TSAB are righteous. The 108th division incident is said to be caused by a traitor within the TSAB that killed one of Hayate’s close friends. Like what Teana also said in her statement is that Hayate sometimes cry at night while wailing out her friend’s name. I don’t think that is the virus,” Subaru said.
Chrono suddenly widened his eyes and snapped his fingers.
“Wait, what if Hayate thinks that we are the traitors? Maybe she wanted to test and see who is loyal and who is not. The only way to separate them is to divide the world into two factions and wage war upon each other. Since her army consists mainly of machines and her close allies, she trusted them. Now she is focusing on us and observing us, trying to determine who the traitor is and who is not,” he said.
“If it is so, it’s a rather cruel and bad way,” Fate said bitterly.
“Sigh, whatever it is, it is a mystery we will never know unless we talk to Hayate about it. For now, let’s hope things do not get worse here on Mid-Childa. Earth needs our help and we will offer them what we can,” Chrono said.