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Chapter Twenty One – Mother and Daughter and Two Sisters

"How can you do this to me, mother?" her voice shook a little as she tried to aligned her line of sight with her mother's eyes. "I'm only seventeen. I'm too young." She exclaimed ignoring her mother guest.

"What is done is done my dear. It is no longer in my control." Her mother said sternly. She silently gazed at her daughter. She pointed at the rose cress on her white blouse. "You are a student of MY school and the heir to THIS family. This is a tradition that you are not to break."

"Well it's a stupid tradition." Mocked the daughter as her eyes flashed with anger. "Have you forgotten what I said –"

"THAT IS ENOUGH LILITH." The mother shouted. "This is not up for discussion. They've already attained your sample and your 'daughter' should be born in about a year."

Lilith tried to hide her anger. She clenched her hand and stared at the floor. She can see her dark red skirt and the pale gold carpet. Her mother gently sipped from her cup and placed it on the silver tray. Lilith was red in anger.

"You, of all people, should understand the importance of this upcoming event." Her mother paused and glared at her. Lilith felt her mother's cold stare and she starts to shiver. Her mother emitted a small amount of her mana around the room. "It is your eighteenth birthday after all."

"I know."

"And you are, after all, the best of the best in the academy. We are expecting great things from you."

"I know." She said again. Her voice softens as her mother tried to drive her point across. Her voice couldn't be heard. She tried to hide her feelings. She was upset.

"You are also the heir to the Harlaown, the oldest magical family in Mid-Childa."

"I know." She admitted. "I get it. But…" she paused and started to head towards the door. "I'm still against it."

Lilith slammed the door shut. Her mother leaned onto the sofa and stared at the high ceiling. The guest took a last sip of her tea and placed it on the coffee table.

"You should learn some manners, child." The mother said. "Or at least use a coaster."

"My apologies." The girl said. "And I also apologize for eavesdropping on your mother-daughter talk."

"No need for any of that Alicia. You are the proof that technology is catching up."

"Yes." Alicia agreed. "I humbly thank you for this second chance of life. You are one of my benefactors after all."

"No. It was fortunate of us to have been able to retrieve your Linker Core intact. You are living proof that we can now revive the dead."

"It was unfortunate that the current Hierarchy has forbidden any further research. They also set laws on reviving fallen mages. I do understand them."

"Indeed." She calmly replied. "Who'd want their former superiors running around, right?"

"Yes. That's right."

Sei turned her back and used a levitation spell to carry Vivi and Mimi. Nanoha tightened her grip on Raising Heart. She stared fiercely at Sei's back. Raven quickly realized what was on her mind. She placed her hand on Nanoha's shoulder. She gave her an intimidating glare. It was a warning. They have no idea of the capabilities of Sei's other allies. After the witnessed Alice's spell neutralized by their barrier spell, they knew they needed more time to plan a counter attack. Nanoha understood and gave Raven a silent nod. She looked down and closed her eyes. She felt helpless. Raven sighed. An energy beam suddenly passed through Sei's feet and hit the ground. Raven was caught off guard. She turned to see if it was Lucia. To her surprise, Alice fired the first shot.

"Do you think you can run away?" Alice said. "Do you think we'll let you go?" she pointed Ruby Heart towards Sei. "This is war!"

Raven panicked. Before she could speak Lucia shouted. "Sei!"

"What do you want, insects?" Sei coldly said.

"As the leader of the Elite Corps, student of St. Luxis and the child of the great mage Lilith, I, Lucia Agatha Harlaown, hereby place you under arrest with the authority vested in me by the Hierarchy for inciting a rebellion and the use of similar propaganda."

"Is that a threat?" Sei replied.

"No." Lucia smirked. "This is an order."

Spikes shot up from the ground. The girls blocked them with their barriers and let them disperse upon impact. Sei kept the barrage. Her eyes filled with darkness. They felt her malicious killing intent.

"What are you doing?" Raven shouted.

"Bringing her to justice…" she looked puzzled at Raven's question. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Without so much as a plan? Not even time to recover?" she asked. "You do realize that Alice's condition is still unstable."

"That is why we have to finish this war quickly. This is for her sake as well."

Raven sighed again. "Why do I get stuck with stubborn teammates?" She stands up and grabs Fenrir from her necklace. "Fate! Nanoha! We're going to do this in one move. We're going to stop this war today!"

"Understood." Fate replied.

"Yes, Raven-chan." Nanoha smiled

"Lightning Purge!"

A loud crack of lightning echoes through the sky. It struck down Sei's weapon. Benvolio fell along with his master. Lucia burst toward her. As she reached the falling mage, she's blocked by a powerful green barrier. Cici caught Sei. Didi also emerged and raised her flaming arm.

"Hell Rain!"

Fire balls blasted from her arm like bullets. The girls immediately go on the defensive and raise their shields.

"There were more?"

"It doesn't matter." Lucia said. "We must not let Sei get away."

"Leave it to me Lucia-chan." Nanoha called on Raising Heart and prepares to take a shot. "Divine Shooter!" Pink balls of magic scrambled through the battle field.

"Okay. Nanoha will be able to control her Divine Shooter." Raven turned towards Fate and Alice. "We have to distract them."

"Roger."

"Cerulean Bolt!" Alice exclaimed

"Photon Lancer!"

"Sapphire Bullet!"

A bombardment of magical energy fills the air. The colorful crossfire streaked across the sky as if a deadly rainbow. Didi sensed their power and ceased firing and puts up her own shield.

"What is it with these girls?" Didi remarked. "It's like fighting one of the Pillars."

"Yes, they seem to be powerful. It is as expected."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember, these are the girls that made Master Sei bleed."

"Who gave you permission to speak my name?"

"Master," Cici looked shock. "My apologies, but you should rest and let us handle this."

"That's not reassuring when you take into consideration the situation we're in."

"The master is right." Didi answered. "We need all the help we can get."

"Sky –"A bright light suddenly illuminated the whole sky. Lucia sensed the powerful magical pressure exerted by the light.

"Shields up! Enemy fire!"

"– Breaker!"

The bright light becomes a streak across the sky heading towards them.

"We can't avoid it. We have to depend on our barriers this time."

"But no one here specializes in barriers." Raven said. "Well, not yet anyway…"

"Alice… Alice…" a ghostly whisper beckoned. "You hunger…"

"Focus all your power unto the barrier and –"Alice suddenly stood up. "Alice," Lucia asked. "What are you doing?"

She raised her and directed it towards the bright light. The barriers suddenly dispersed and the girls are left defenseless.

"What happened?" Raven asked.

"I don't know."

"Fate-chan, I can't use any of my spells."

"Is it…." Lucia shifted her attention to Alice. "Alice!" she shouts. "Are you the one doing this?"

She doesn't get a reply. As the light approaches, a whirling vortex appeared before Alice. The magical energy was being dissolved. The vortex started to eat the energy blast.

"Is this what happened the last time?"

A maid rushed across the wide halls of Harlaown Manor adorned with a wall of elm and the high ceiling of pure white marble, the floor covered with a long red carpet. She stopped in front of two large doors to catch her breath. She pushed forward and immediately found her master.

"Mistress!" the maid exclaimed.

"What is it child?" said the mistress. "You seem out of breath. Did something happen?"

"I'm afraid so." the maid finally caught her breath and stood up straight. "Lady Lilith has ran away."

"What are you saying? I can sense her presence in her room."

"But mistress," she explained. "When we entered her room, she was gone. All that was there was a magical ball."

"A magic –"

"Yes."

Lilith's mother finally realized the situation. Her daughter just ran away, only a few days before her birthday. She had previously protested against the production of her clone, one of the key milestones for a Harlaown. It was a tradition to mark a succession. She asked herself why Lilith would do such a thing. Why would she betray her?

"Find her." She said softly.

"Mistress?"

"I said find her!" she exclaimed. "Search the mansion, the garden, the surrounding forest. She couldn't have gone far without using magic."

"Yes, mistress," the maids scrambled to search for their young master.

Thoughts and memories started flooding into her mind. Lilith's mother tried to remember the previous conversations they had. What would drive her daughter to run away? Her daughter was well behaved, disciplined and refined. Even with her stern parenting, she gave her freedom. As long as she can keep her grades up, she can stay up at night. She can go out with her friends as long as she goes home before curfew and behaves properly when outside. She can have anything she desires as long as she works for it. Was it not enough for her?

"I have someone I love."

She remembered. It was about a month ago. It was a summer afternoon. Lilith was spending the day with her mother tending the garden. It was a chore they both shared. She wore a white one piece dress and a rounded straw hat.

"Did you ever love a man, mother?"

"Yes, my dear." She replied. "It was a long time ago when I was about your age.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"Sadly, your grandmother didn't approve. We are Harlaown. We must always prioritize our family first."

"But mother," Lilith said. "I have someone I love. And he's very handsome. And…"

"Are you sure you love him?"

"Yes, but of course."

"Then when can I meet this man?"

"But you just said grandmother never approved."

"I'm not your grandmother now, am I?"

Lilith's face brightened up. "Yes, but of course. You'll meet him at my birthday."

"I look forward to it."

Lilith smiled.

"What have I done?" she asked herself. "How could I have forgotten?"

A strong wind surrounded around Alice while Lucia made her way toward her friend. The vortex Alice created started to shrink as it has absorbed the magical energy.

"Alice!" Lucia caught her as she faltered.

A young woman dressed in the same type of barrier jacket as the two mages of Juno. A long blue line ran through her cleavage and separated upon the neckline. She has blue braided twintails and a pair of round glasses which hides her face.

"Gigi!"

"Another enemy has appeared." Lucia thought. Alice woke up and stared at Lucia.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"It's nothing." Lucia answered. "You just need to rest. You've done a wonderful job protecting your friends, Alice."

"Lucia."

Sei took center stage. She stood up and pats her clothes full of dust. She took a hold of Benvolio once again.

"Lucia! We finish this today!" Sei said. "I will defeat you."

Lucia smiled. "Just try."

Note: Hope you guys enjoy chapter 21. More back stories. More back stories.