«General. - I nodded to the man as I entered the office. Wynter was already here with her cold stare. Not that she disliked me, I think it was just her usual look.
«It's just James. - The man exhaled heavily and looked from the screen to me. - You've done us a great favour, Anthony. Winter told me about your conversations with her... are you really capable of growing limbs?
«Yes, I just don't use it very often. - I nodded. Ask away, I can see you have more questions.
«You've got a very diverse group, and two of your group have rather technologically advanced suits. I highly doubt there wouldn't have been a shred of information about you so far, from what I've seen so far...
«Let's just say Ozpin isn't the only one with secrets. - I waved my hand uncertainly.
«I see..." The general's eyes grew grey, but he couldn't do anything. He could have, but it would have ruined relations between us, and I probably wouldn't have helped him anymore.
«Have you told Winter about the maidens? - The General nodded. - Do you know about the artefacts? - Another cautious nod. - And that the Director likes to reincarnate after the body dies? - Another more cautious nod and a look in Winter's eyes that showed... that she was having trouble believing it all. - How much did he tell you about Salem?
«Hmm, not enough. That she's as old as he is and that they're enemies and he's been opposing her for almost as long as he can remember.
«So he didn't tell you that she was his ex-wife? - I asked and... yeah, the general clearly wasn't expecting that.
«...When he comes back, he and I will have a serious talk if it's true. I've spoken to the Vale council, and they're grateful that we helped repel the Grimm attack, but because my ships were hacked and used against me, they won't mind if we fly back. Anthony, I have one more request for you. Please help the badly wounded and those who have lost limbs... if it's not too much trouble. What do you need for that, Ashes?
«No, like I said, magic doesn't need it. But about Ashes... I wouldn't mind a kilo of every kind you have.
«Ozpin said that there is no more magic left in the world... however, you have to see for yourself first. - A man got up from the table and escorted me to the infirmary. Here lay the wounded soldiers and staff of Atlas who had been badly injured during the attack and the fall of the kings.
«This was Lars Kruers, who had served Atlas faithfully for ten years. When the ship went down, he landed badly and his legs were crushed by Paladin parts. He had to be amputated. - The General spoke, stopping at his bedside. There was no one else here besides Winter, James, myself, and the patient, but the general was not stupid and had already made sure he was moved to a separate place.
«Yeah, well, it's a good thing he's alive. - I didn't hesitate and got down to business. I could heal wounds, it's easy enough with the help of matter manipulation, that is, with the help of the same Alchemy. But now, just in case, I created a magical seal and placed my hands directly on the patient's body, for as much accuracy as possible. The seal shone with a golden-green hue, and right before my eyes I could see the amputated limbs glow a little, as well as the aura in that place, and the legs began to literally grow. It didn't look too aesthetically pleasing, but it was still growing limbs, so it wasn't anything else to expect. It took a couple of minutes for two stumpy legs to grow into regular legs instead of two stumpy legs.
«Amazing. - James said, looking at the legs and at the devices that monitored the patient's health. The man was indeed VERY surprised, just like Winter. It's one thing to hear that I possibly can, but it's another to see substantial proof.
«Can you regenerate any body parts? - he asked again, looking at me with some hope.
«Yes, I can even create a body from scratch. I just haven't really needed it yet. - I shook my head. - I also promised to help your sister's friend. - I glanced at Winter, who had been silent until then.
«Weiss told me about that... thanks. I'll go tell her you can really do it. - She nodded to the General and left the room.
«General, can I ask you a question? - I looked at him as the girl left the room.
«Yes. - He nodded, and as far as I could see he was really ready to answer if not any, then almost any of my questions, purely out of sheer gratitude and perhaps even recognition.
«What is your relationship with Jacques Schnee?
«He's the CEO of Schnee's Ashes Company and from time to time I have... the honour of having conversations with him on various topics involving earnings. Arrogant, petty, greedy, selfish, but he can stop in time, at least he used to. - gave his brief summary of the man. - But is still an important man of the kingdom because of connections and capital.
«Hmm, I see. - I spent the next hour restoring limbs to injured soldiers and Atlas employees, even regrowing limbs for a few hunters. Somewhere in the process, Winter joined in, but she stayed out of the way and just followed us, and I could feel her gaze on my back. When I was done, I couldn't help but suggest to the General that he undergo a similar procedure, as I could feel that part of his body was robotised. Of course after seeing that he didn't refuse.
«No, it's better to do it in your office, there's more room. Your injuries are much more extensive.
«Erm, yes. - He nodded a little too sharply, it was obvious that he was really excited... after all he was missing an important male organ besides his arm and part of his torso.
«Winter, you'd better not come in if you don't want to embarrass the General. - I said outside his office.
«I got it. - She didn't even make a fuss, just glanced at James and nodded, which was enough.
Already in the office I created a magical seal under the man and began the process. Using alchemy, I literally split all the metal parts in his body and used the energy to regenerate the damage. He was clearly very unlucky somewhere, as all of this damage is very extensive and even a hunter with an open aura wouldn't live long with such injuries. I realise that I'm acting in a very... kind way, because in my world I didn't try to help everyone, but here it's primarily to my advantage. Cortana has already learnt that the General holds two out of five votes on the Atlas Council, so... an ally like that would be very useful.
«My arm..." James stared mesmerised at his right limb, which had been replaced by a high-tech prosthetic. - My...
«I get it, I get it, I'm going to go out. - I hurried out of the naked man's office, who began to stare in fascination at his... device, yes.
«Was it a success? - Winter asked me a question as soon as I got out.
«Yeah, but I'd advise you not to go in yet. The general's in there rejoicing that he's got his manhood back. - I said straight out. - By the way, Winter, what's your relationship with the general? - I decided to ask.
«I see where you're going with this, and no, there are no romantic feelings between us. - Without changing the timbre of her voice answered the platinum blonde.
«Do you have a boyfriend?
«No. I'm not into that. - She turned a hundred and eighty degrees and went... somewhere. And I liked that she just tried to avoid this conversation.
While the general was very happy to be back to normal, in the sense that his junior general was back on duty, I headed towards Hermione's room.
«Am I interrupting? - I knocked and entered the room where all four girls were sitting. Hermione and Erina were in their normal clothes, and the nanobots of the suit had spread out so they couldn't be seen.
«No." the wizard girl shook her brown hair. And she was holding a magic wand in her hands, and in front of her floated the magical seal of the House of Gremory, in which sat... a piglet.
«Showing off your transfiguration skills? - I instantly realised what she was doing.
«Yeah, I can't figure out how it works. The energy of the object disintegrates and just transforms into this... maybe Sona would understand something. - The scarlet-haired woman bit her lip.
«This is now a magical puppet under Hermione's control. The magical energy will return the item to its original form after a while. - I said after a little more careful analysis. - Hermie, how far have you got with the spells? - I asked the question, embarrassing the girl. I was now standing very close to her and she was hearing this kind of address directly from me and not through Chat, perhaps she wasn't used to it.
«Umm, well... ahem. I know all of first, second, third year perfectly. - she started talking with a little bit of a sniffle. - After Chat came along I started getting a little ahead of myself, so more fourth year spells, or rather some of them.
«You know the Imperio spell, right? False Grum showed you, didn't he? - The girl opened her eyes a little wider after my question.
«It's a dark spell! Of course I haven't studied it..." she realised she was speaking to the wrong audience when she noticed my raised eyebrow and Rias' chuckle.
«I'm just curious to feel the spell on myself, in theory it shouldn't take control of me. - I said. - So can you use it on me? - I asked her.
«What?! No! What kind of stupid idea is that? How did it even occur to you!!! - She waved her hands in an expressive manner and her look was like, "Are you all right in the head?".
«Hermie... you're the only one here, well apart from me, who can use a spell like that. And it's important for me to know how the subjugation magic will work on me. - I asked her, grabbing her hand and gently running my hand over it, causing the girl to blush.
«Well, if you don't want to, that's fine. - I let her go like it was nothing. I'm pretty sure it won't work on me, so it's no big deal. - Let me activate your auras. Erina, you okay?
«I don't mind. - She graciously allowed me to do it, but when I got close to her she took a step back. - W-what?
«I need to touch you. - I told her and put my hands on her shoulders, which made her flinch and stand upright. I immediately began to infuse her with my aura and within a minute, her own golden coloured aura was glowing around her. - How are you feeling?
«Good...very good. Is that how you usually feel? - She asked watching that golden light.
«Aura is the embodiment of the soul, so to speak the power of your soul and its reflection in reality. So your soul is very beautiful, and so are you, but I wouldn't expect anything else. - I said without much of a backwards glance.
«Hermie, ready? - I walked over to her and put my hands on her shoulders and the girl nodded timidly. I infused my aura into her a little longer than I had into Erina, and as a result the girl's aura had a bluish tinge to it. It was getting close to nightfall, so I didn't stay with the girls long, because Hermie and Erina, even though they had activated their auras, wanted to sleep after what they had been through. But before I went to bed, I decided to still scroll through Gacha, since I still had my glasses.
Gacha points: 73
I have no problem scrolling it ten times with an increased chance of getting some good item. Last time I stopped after getting Albedo, as I thought it was better not to wear out my luck, but now I'm in a different world and in a more or less good mood, so I'm willing to give it a try. Without thinking long, I immediately spun it ten times.....
Light bulb (E)
Azari Shape (D)
Fish skeleton (E)
Compass (E)
Diamond (D)
Unicorn's Eye (C)
Luck Enhancement Card (A)
Spider with OZ Injection (C)
Lip Rolling Machine (C)
Toothpaste (E)
«Yeah, I don't know if I'm lucky or unlucky. - I said as I looked at the Lip Rolling Machine. However, the Luck Enhancement Card is pretty good, it increases your luck for ten minutes, which is pretty good and I'll use it on the next Gacha roll. Spider is interesting too, but it's more than useless for me with my build, but it's good for learning in my world.
In the morning I was summoned to talk to the General, who continued to be in a good mood. He told me that he would be here for another day and their fleet would head back to Atlas, and that we would return to our world tomorrow. He'd already prepared some Ashes for me, but I asked him to leave them for now, and I'd pick them up later. Until that happened, I decided to fulfil the promise I made to the snow princess. But even after everything that had happened I wasn't fooled, after all James is a general after all, so we'll have another conversation with him about Salem, I'm more than sure of it. I may have helped him, helped him a lot, but he's not going to trust me blindly.
«Are you sure you want to come with us? - I asked my group, and they expressed their desire to go with me to Patch Island, where Weiss's friend is staying now.
«Yes, it's boring here. - Shinoa nodded her head, and Rias echoed her in saying that yes, there was nothing to do, but I could read on the way.
«I was embarrassed to ask for access to the kitchen here..." Erina hesitated to answer.
«I see, and Hermie, as I understand it, is just with everyone? - I glanced at the girl, and she tried not to look me in the eye.
«...She said no! - We heard Weiss shout and soon she appeared at the bullhead with a somewhat angry expression on her face. - Ahem, sorry, it's a family thing. - she said calmly.
«That's okay, I can understand. I had a very naughty relative too. - I said understandingly.
«Yeah?" the platinum blonde looked at me.
«Yeah, my brother was a dick, and I said it mildly. He was the number one asshole, and if I had interfered with his business, he could have gotten rid of me. - I was telling the truth, because I was.
«God..." Hermione covered her mouth with the palm of her hand.
«And... and how did you deal with it? - Schnee's heiress asked, clearly interested.
«'Well, I have a sister who helped me a lot. Then my brother died and his assets went to her and me. - I shrugged. - Come on in, we need to help your friend out. - I reminded her of that. I don't even know if I'm helping her because I'm so kind, or because they're the main characters of this world...
***
The whole story is already available at:
patreon.com/posts/124888009