Chapter 1: Irish Brawl

I missed this. Being able to venture out. Even if I was still hiding in the shadows, I felt better about being in public now that time had passed. The bar smelt of cigarette smoke and whiskey, so I loitered outside, but no one seemed to bother me.

My style had changed. I thought of the environment more now, being that I was in Ireland for this investigation. A dark green hooded dress with brown pants with black boots was enough. My guards were still up in case someone saw me, and I wanted to at least be logical. Most of the time I avoided cities, I preferred deserts or the woods.

I was looking for an artifact and put out sensors. It was difficult to find but I got a tip that someone had been passing through asking the same questions. I felt it was best to track their path, but I still lingered in the shadows so they wouldn't suspect me.

It took two years before the wound left by Augustus had become just another scar. It frustrated me that I had all of the possibilities with weapons before, but couldn't use them. I wasn't looking for fights but felt it best to be prepared in case the Clock Tower wanted to check out Waver's vacation home.

At first the pain when I tried to make blades held me back. But Waver at least understood my frustration. He saw that I mostly wanted to keep the place from being detected, and he brought me books on healing to keep me occupied. Though some of them weren't the best sources, I appreciated the effort.

It had been five years since I had moved into the bunker and I lived very comfortably. The system was that Waver did the investigating and selling while I mostly looked for the artifacts. After a few miss steps, he realized that I was good at determining if an artifact was real or fake, no matter how much he used magic to alter it. Once in a while he would come with artifacts, at least when I first started, but after he saw that I did enjoy doing this alone, and he let me venture out.

The Mages Association had forgotten about me and what I did. After three years headlines and conspiracy theories stopped emerging. However, Waver and I debated quite frequently. I had told him that I wanted the Archibald's to know about me. My idea was that they would find out about me eventually, so it would be better for them to know by his word rather than hearsay. But we ran into a problem. One of Kayneth El Melloi's good friends was Augustus Mikkleson, the man who experimented on my sister and me. The fact I killed him was still a bitter one, and Waver said when he approached the topic they still saw me as a savage.

Waver appreciated having me around, I think. His demeanor had changed over the last two years after his grandmother, Martha passed away. Though he came quite frequently to the bunker on the weekends, he had hesitations. His work at the Clock Tower had grown more strenuous so I had been doing most of the hunting for artifacts and trying to revive them so he only had to worry about the selling part. He let me keep most of the profits now since it was my only form of income, but I would try to pay him back some of it when I could.

We both would work on our mage craft. I focused more effort towards healing, which was my mother's main ability. I would practice fighting, creating objects, but going against a tree really didn't do much. So, I focused my energies on being more flexible and building my base strength. Though Waver persisted that I wouldn't need to fight anymore, I said that it gave me something to do. It was like before, I would balance reading with sparing practice, just to have a change of pace.

Occasionally I would remember that night in my dreams, the only way I could calm myself was to punch it out. I set up a punching bag next to my bed, the couch, and would hit it until I was tired. Sometimes it would take hours until I was calm, but when Waver was over I would go outside and sit in the moonlight. But being alone with my thoughts was sometimes worse. He would join me on those nights which would help. Even if it was just him rambling about video games or how his students were annoying him, the small talk helped me forget.

Being in Ireland brought back memories from childhood. My mother had a close friend here, and our families would often meet. It was nice to be somewhere familiar especially with what I was looking for. Knowing the terrain was beneficial.

My cell phone began to ring. It was one of the few things I splurged on when it came to money was buying minutes. I flipped it open and answered.

"Hello Waver." It wasn't like anyone else would call me.

"Did you get to Ireland safely?" His monotone was common with any conversation.

"Yeah, the boat was more expensive than before. But no luck with the artifact." I said. Being that more people were walking past, I kept my voice low and was vigilant.

"Well, if you get this skull then the college museum will pay more than enough." He said. My guess is he was in his study at the mansion.

"So they need a skull from Ireland? That's quite specific." Most missions were region based and not a specific item. However, the more specific the request, the more pay came in the end.

"They said Northern European, but the older the better." I chuckled.

"So then it would be best to look here." There was a sensor that went off. Another mage was here. I kept talking but walking down the ally.

"Where are you in Ireland?" He finally asked that, as though I was looking in the wrong spot.

"The North, in the land and of Ulster. Tons of wars happened here. But most of the remains are either too broken or from the wrong time period." The person was approaching. I did my best to lay low. He had no idea what was going on.

"I know you appreciate a challenge." Waver kept talking, but I could tell a mage had begun to pass the pub. They were wearing a hoodie, with a shoulder bag. But the shape was inside looked like a skull. I was curious and decided to follow. Though Waver told me to avoid violence, this mage seemed to be up to something. I had the boat for five days and had two days left before getting a late fee. There was still time to look.

"Hazel, what's wrong?" Waver asked. He was keen when I wasn't telling the truth.

"I'll call you when I have the skull okay?" I hung up.

The full moon was out, but clouds kept covering the light. I stayed as far away as possible, especially because the person was experienced. They went into the forest where there would be coverage. I walked east, away from the path they ran, and came upon a clearing.

I remained behind on the perimeter to ensure I was unseen, but the mage was in the center. When they took of their hoodie, it was someone I remembered, the mole on her face gave it away, but the suit seemed out of character. She had drawn a circle, and out of her bag she unwrapped a skull. I was right, but this meant I had to fight her to get it.

My initial thought was to go back. But part of me knew that this would be the only skull I would find. She was an old friend, so maybe we could be civil and share. As I sat trying to decide my course, Waver decided to call me again. I typically had my phone on silent but of course it would ring at the worst time. A volley hit my upper arm, and blood began to run down. I was spotted. There was no choice, I would have to fight her now.

"Show yourself." She said. It was time to be honest.

"All right." I stepped up onto the rock I was hiding behind. I hadn't seen her in so long, a friend from my past. "Bazett. Good to see you." I was sincere, we used to spare as children. She was someone I respected.

"Hazel." She looked shocked, and almost happy that it was me. I stepped down from the rock and walked toward her. But her expression changed quickly to one of discontent. "Get back, savage." I decided to ignore her comment.

"Baz…What are you doing here?" She was from here, but I didn't understand the summoning circle she made, her attitude, and the blood mark. I wanted to know her reason.

"None of your concern." She said coldly. "Please leave." I didn't want to do that.

"Hey it's been over a decade. Can't we at least talk?" I asked. I inched closer as the clouds split to reveal the moon. Her fists began to glow.

"If you don't leave then I will have to kill you." She was obviously calling something, but for what purpose I wasn't sure. I hoped that she could at least agree to talk for a bit.

"Come on, Baz. We're still friends." I said. She clenched her fists. When her teeth showed, she looked like a beast herself.

"Someone who attacks the Mages Association is no friend to me." I stepped back. I hated when my past interfered. I didn't have to worry about it for a while. But I didn't expect to have this happen. Not with her.

"Damn, I didn't know you were on their side." I said.

"I joined because of you." She replied. "So no one else would have to watch someone close turn rouge." It was a noble reason for her, I understood that much. I smiled.

"You sound just like Rikki." My sister and she got along well when it came to ideals. But I had to get the skull. It was in tacked which was rare, I thought we could compromise. "Baz, I need that skull. Can't we share it or something?" I walked near the outer rim of the circle. She casted a volley at me and I was flung back. She tried to focus and continue her summons, but I got up.

"We're not kids anymore, Hazel." She said. "You'll have to kill me for the skull if you refuse to leave." I was clenching my left arm. I had blood on my hand, which gave me an idea. I wanted to trust that she wouldn't turn me in. But I wasn't sure. If we could strike a deal then no one would get killed.

"If I leave, will you keep my life secret from the Mages Association?" I thought it was fair. She could get what she wanted. All I had to worry about was Waver chewing me out which wasn't that bad. "I don't want to kill you. But I know what they would do would be much worse." Baz paused for a moment. She realized now that we would fight if this didn't get resolved. For a moment, I could tell she thought about taking my offer. Just one moment, but that was it.

"I owe it to them to know you're alive." She put her hands on her hips. "They may even promote me once I turn you in." That was it. If see couldn't let me go on with my life, then there was no other option. I placed my hand over the circle and dripped my blood on my left shoulder into it. Her face grew red.

"You have no choice now. I'll fight." This was going to be a fun story to tell Waver. He always said to remain passive, but this was personal. All for a damn skull.

She came at me fast and charged her fists. I remembered the green and teal glow. I still preferred to use my arms in battle though I could use my legs. Instead of a shield and rugged lightning bolts, I could create solid yellow shapes. Any weapon was at my disposal. My preferred one was what I called my spades. They provided enough of a shield, but the sharp point meant I could make a deadly strike. I would use it on animals, the occasional wolf pack if I was out in this region. But now this could help. I crossed them like an "X" and she punched through, then I grabbed her arm and threw her. But she came back at me. I was going to have to fight her how she wanted. Just as I had done in the past. She continued her incantation as I kept sparing with her.

"Summoning under your breath?" I said. "What does the Mages Association need with a skull anyway?" She was silent. I wanted her to talk but that was unlikely. I dodged her punches to remain on the defensive. Once there was an opening, I shot volleys that were precise. I had to target her veins that would bleed out so she couldn't focus on fighting. But for a small Irish woman, she was a tank. Striking her thighs didn't faze her. She kept speaking the words even away from the circle.

As she came at me I put golden lassos around her wrist and dragged her closer. I kneed her in the nose and it began to bleed. She stepped back, and continued her chant.

"You don't need to hold back with me." I said, before she punched me in the shoulder. I grabbed her arm and prepared my blade to cut it off. But she swung her leg and tripped me. I pulled her down and got my arms around her neck. I increased my mana to my arms to choke her out, but she used her feet to propel herself out of my grasp. I got up and she punched me in the stomach. I was a good hit. I was flung into a tree. When I failed to get up but she quickly hit me in the face multiple times.

"You're weaker than before." She said tugging my hair. "Where is the beast?" She prepared to strike me with her fist.

I had hoped she would have followed in her family's footsteps, but Bazett was always fond of justice. She was a combination of Rikki and I's better traits. Fast with strong punches. I missed sparing with her because we both needed our fists. We were both only children but I could tell her attacks were the same, just with more power. It was strength not weapons that determined our sparing matches. I charged my fists to combat her power.

She went to punch me and I equaled out her fist with mine. If she wanted the beast I had to show her. I got up from the ground and began to throw more punches. We continued equaling each other out. As the full moon provided a back drop for our fight. The use of my amplifiers had improved greatly now that they had dissolved into my body. I felt in control more than five years ago. I could win this fight.

She charged me again but this time got a punch in my stomach again. I had learned to place my shield in certain spots of my body. Though she threw multiple punches in the area over and over, my stomach only felt like it had been tickled. But see landed on in my face and I flew a couple of yards until I fell on the ground. I had been out of practice. Though I knew more spells than before, living with Waver had left me less focused on fighting. But I began to laugh, this is what I needed. To be a mage that fought. It was funny, I saw myself in Bazett. If I hadn't left, the roles could have been reversed.

"Why are you laughing?" She demanded an answer.

"You don't find this fun?" I said as I stood up. "I should at least thank you for a good battle. Reminds me of the old times." The nostalgia was something I needed though I hoped it wouldn't have to end. The adrenaline I had before was circling through my body. She ran and I put up a shield with my last arm as her fist tried to break through.

"The past between us is dead." She said. "You are nothing more than a vagabond." I laughed.

"What else is new?" I said as I kicked her in the side.

"Where did you learn manners?" Bazett washed to blood off her lips

"I always had manners." I said. She began to move toward the circle. "Just didn't want to waste them on bad people." She crept closer to the circle.

"You'll be dead soon. I'll have support." There was a red glow that surrounded the center of the skull. Obviously she had done something. She got up and looked at her creation. I had to kill her. Hell only knew what was on the other side.

I let my instinct take over as the clouds covered the moon. I made two long swords and charged towards her. I dodged her punch and she left her side open. I stabbed her through the front and enlarged my sword mid blow. The wound was bigger in her back, and punctured her left lung. I dissolved my blades. She fell to the ground and I began to feel a burning on my left hand as I kneeled on the grass. I figured using electricity for my mana and magic would eventually burn me. But when I looked there was a red mark.

"No!" Bazett screamed, blood began to pour from her mouth.

"What is this?" I showed her the mark, but the blood was pouring out. I didn't have enough time to know what was going on. I moved next to her.

"I don't need to tell you, traitor." Her words became grabbled. "I wanted to wait until I got to Fuyuki, but you… you ruined everything!" Why would she wait to get there? She was going to die soon, and I needed answers. The blood came out of her chest. The healing magic I used only worked on me and not others. I put my hand over the wound, hopefully to keep some of the blood in.

"You tried to kill me over this, why's it so damn important?" I asked.

"Ki..rei." The priest? Why would he be a part of this? I had to know before she passed.

"What about Kotomine?" She was beginning to fade. I held her neck under my arm as I sat beside her. I put my hand on the wound, but she had already bled out enough.

"He said… I was chosen." She coughed. "He lied, Hazel. He…" She began to convulse. Bazett grabbed my hand I guided it to the left pocket in her blazer. Her hand shook until finally she took her last breathe. When I reached into her pocket, I felt something familiar. It was a large golden locket, inside was a folded picture of her with my sister and I. We were only children, but the fact that she had it meant she hadn't forgotten.

I didn't understand what was going on. Kirei, Fuyuki, all words from my past but why did she mention them? I wanted to rest a moment. She was the first person I killed in five years. Maybe I thought it would be like riding bike, I could do it again and not even think twice. But, I couldn't leave her like that. I shut her eyelids and grabbed some of the flowers nearby and laid them on her chest.

I took a deep breathe, and kneeled beside her. I wanted to know what her plan was. How did she know Kirei? Last time I saw her was just before I was taken to the Mages Association. Obviously she went against her family's wishes, but I didn't know why she would be wanting to die over a skull.

"Baz, I'm sorry." Though she couldn't hear my words, they were true. I wanted to feel the tears run down my face, but it didn't happen. I was stone faced, as I weaved the chain of the locket through my fingers. This was just the same thing I had seen so many times before. Protect my identity so I can stay alive. The Association was just bigger than I was, and obviously meant more to her. I almost relaxed, but it wasn't over yet. I could sense someone else.

Immediately I put up my shield, and there was a weapon to my left. I got up and prepared my spades. I only looked at his eyes, their red gleam broke through the moonlight. It reminded me of another warrior, one I hadn't thought of in so long.

His lance was red, but I had never seen anything like it. We danced with our weapons in the moonlight. He was aggressive with his strikes, and I did my best to station his weapon. I crossed my spades and drove his lance into the ground as I flipped over his head. When I landed I faced him, and extended my spade right next to his neck. He had his lance right over my heart, where I put a small shield. We stared at each other for a moment. As the clouds split, I could see his full appearance in the moonlight. He was tall, with blue hair. His armor was not from this era, a blue unitard with silver accents.

"It appears I chose wisely." He smirked. "Master."

I was confused. All I came for was a skull. What had I just gotten myself into?