Cabinet Battle

John saved his double-jump as he fell, eyes going to the mini-map in his periphery. It’s not that far from here. Jump needs a surface to kick off of, not necessarily a floor…

He used his double jump to propel himself toward a nearby tower, then kicked out and activated Jump; in an instant he was leaping between buildings, settling into a steady rhythm. Soon after, Parkour activated, showing him the most efficient path to take. Instead of needing to Jump between the buildings, the double-jump from his boots carried him across the city.

Finally some time to think. I can activate party chat again. Opening his menus, he activated party chat and tentatively reached out. Can you hear me? Is everybody okay?

At once, Grace, Amy, and Mandruzzo’s thoughts filled his mind.

Oi! He’s alive! Did-

John! How did you-

Never did I think it would be such a relief-

He chuckled to himself, mind set at ease by his friend’s voices. One at a time, everyone. How is Abigail doing? Is she awake yet?

Her breathing and heartbeat are normal, but she hasn’t woken up yet. We think she suffered Mana Shock. She absorbed a lot of mana from that Hydra’s fire, Amy answered, worry creeping into her thoughts. What about you? How did you get away? Is that man… dead?

There’s too much to explain right now, John replied, followed by an internal sigh. He missed his next kick, and had to use Move to reposition himself as he plummeted toward the ground. I’m - more or less - totally fine. I’m alive. I have a debt to worry about, but… it’s preferable to dying. Crow’s alive too. But he doesn’t have hands anymore. At least, they were cut off. I’ll explain the next time I see everyone. How is everyone else? Did you make it to the town safely? Be careful, he may have retreated toward you.

You have nothing to worry about, signor, we’ll be on guard, Mandruzzo’s reassuring voice echoed in his mind. We have parted ways with the sisters, our escort mission was a success. The inventor entrusted us with a letter for you.

I have a few things to take care of, but I’ll probably be in the dorm by the time you all get back, John replied, grabbing a flag pole that hung on the side of a tower and using it to swing himself forward. As he followed through, he felt someone grab a hold of his foot and pull him back. I’ll talk to everybody then!

“You’re doing a good job, so I decided it’s a race,” Isabelle laughed, swinging him backwards by the heel.

In response to her cocky grin, he activated Magic Rope and snaked a knot around her ankle. He felt nauseous for a moment after being jerked around so much mid-air, but got his bearings and held on tight. He could see the Rider-Waite building a few blocks away, and decided to gain some freedom and punish her for holding back in one fell swoop. “If I win, I get the rest of the day off.”

“Sounds good to me,” Isabelle replied, drawing her katana and slicing his rope in half, “and when I win, you have to pick up my new tanto from the London base.”

They locked eyes, nodding in agreement. As John fell toward the ground, he judged the distance between the building’s doors and the tower he was in. His first attempt at Jump was met with an error and the gap between himself and Isabelle widened.

Error! Cannot Jump into solid objects.

He tried it again, this time with less mana, and appeared a few feet away from the door. He used Move to drive himself toward it without touching the ground, and looked back to see Isabelle’s progress.

He looked back just in time to see her shocked face, crashing into him mid-air and propelling them both into the building. “You bastard! I forgot you could do that!”

John peeled himself off the hardwood floor, counting his lucky stars that he had the mask on. Even with its armor, the collision cost him a hundred health. “I won!”

“Alright, alright, fine. You can have the rest of the day off. Be in the lobby of the Springfield travel hub tomorrow morning at eight. I’m taking you on my next mission,” Isabelle replied, dusting herself off and looking down at him.
“What is it? And is there anything you can do about the curse Crow put on me?” John asked, holding the redhead’s gaze.

“Dragon slaying. There should be one left. Go talk to The Magician about that curse. If anyone can do anything about it, it’s him.” With that she disappeared from his side, leaving him alone with a dozen eyes on him. Rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, he jogged toward the mirrors further in the base.

You’ve entwined yourself with many… interesting people, Master. I worry for your safety. I know what you did was necessary to save your life, but… Cinder appeared in her incorporeal form, floating alongside John as he headed toward the mirrors, have you put yourself in even greater danger?

To John’s surprise, David was on her shoulder, feathers smoothed down as he basked in the warmth she radiated. After a few moments, he flew back into John. I had no other choice. At least this way, everyone’s still alive.

You could have escaped from that man without your allies, your mobility skills are greater. Did you ever consider leaving them behind? Cinder wondered, tipping up her flaming hat to expose her blank face to him. Though she had no eyes to pierce his, he had the feeling her gaze was directly on him.

Never. Abigail. Amy. Grace. Even Mandruzzo. All of them are my allies. I would never abandon them like that, John instantly replied, the thought of escaping on his own had never crossed his mind.

Few will show you the same kindness. The same sentiment got my last master killed. Cinder retreated into his mind, leaving John to mull over her words.

Eleven of the Major Arcana had assembled, a better turnout than most meetings. Though eleven of the seats were empty, they didn’t crowd together. Instead, each member sat at their usual post. The Magician steepled his fingers as he listened to the High Priestess next to him.

“I’ve examined the mana signature left in Strength’s cell. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Mortal races, demigods, it doesn’t match any of them,” The High Priestess claimed, touching the diamond pendant that hung from her neck. Out of it, a looping, spiral thread was presented.

“Could it be an Outsider? One powerful enough to have sapience?” The Fool asked, pushing off the ground with his feet and tilting his chair backwards. “Or a god?”

“It was mana. Though corruption and empowerment is a fitting theme, I can say for certain that it is not an Outsider,” The High Priestess responded, clutching her pendant even harder.

“Crossfire has been dispatched to disrupt the collection of necrotic energy in the Springfield cemetery. Based on his findings, we may learn that this necromancer that has given us trouble isn’t a necromantic being at all,” The Chariot asserted, slamming his fist on the table. “We mustn’t act too soon.”

“Alvaro, did you fully recover the mana signature database at The Tower?” The Emperor asked, stroking his chin with one hand.

“Indeed, my lord. Though The Tower is barely operational. If we were to-”

“Enough. You’ve made this proposal at every meeting. We do not have the resources yet to restore The Tower. It has been cleared and made safe, that is enough for now. Escort the High Priestess to The Tower and discover the necromancer’s identity. We cannot fight a foe we do not know.”

“As you command. As for the other matter. The… replacing, of Strength?” The Magician asked, reaching into a pocket dimension and bringing out a large metal water bottle. He sipped it as Judgement spoke.

“We cannot move to replace him with only half of us here, surely?” Judgement spoke, looking between the faces in the room with an eyebrow raised.

“Those here are obviously the most loyal to the guild. If they decided to skip a meeting and lose out on a vote, isn’t that their fault?” The Fool asked, tipping back too far in his chair and falling over.

“He has a point,” The Empress agreed, nudging her husband with her foot. “If they neglect the opportunities afforded them, they have no basis of complaint.”

“Strength,” The Emperor said wistfully, recalling the first time he fought his eventual ally, “I still haven’t given up hope that he will find his way back to us. We will table this matter.”