Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Morgan stepped up to Artoria's apartment door. She knocked softly, and it opened to reveal Rin, already dressed in her school uniform.
"Good morning, Rin. Up early, I see," Morgan greeted with a warm smile as she stepped inside.
"I wish I could say the same for those two," Rin replied, gesturing behind her.
Sprawled out on the couch were Artoria and Kay, both fast asleep under a pile of tangled blankets. Artoria had one arm draped off the edge, and Kay was snoring softly with a pillow over his face.
"They were up most of the night talking," Rin added with a sigh. "I think they ran out of things to reminisce about around 3 a.m."
Morgan chuckled lightly. "I assume you're here to keep them in check?"
"Trying my best." Rin closed the door behind her. "I was just about to make breakfast, but the kitchen's stocked with nothing but instant noodles and junk food."
"In that case, we can grab something on the way to school," Morgan said as she made her way over to the couch.
She leaned down and gently shook Artoria's shoulder. "Time to wake up, sleepyhead."
"Mmm…" Artoria blinked groggily, green eyes meeting Morgan's cool blue ones. "Morgan?"
"Morning, sleeping beauty. Come with me a moment—we need to talk."
Still half-asleep, Artoria let Morgan guide her off the couch. She stood up and yawned, her pajama ensemble drawing a small laugh from Morgan: red shorts patterned with yellow crowns and a black T-shirt with a cartoon lion on the chest.
The two slipped quietly down the hallway to Artoria's room. Once inside, Morgan closed the door and motioned for her to sit on the edge of the bed.
"I'm here to renew the seal," Morgan said, her tone gentle but serious. "The one I placed yesterday—it didn't hold."
"The mana seal?" Artoria asked, now more awake. "The thing that keeps my excess magical energy from leaking everywhere?"
Morgan nodded. "Yes. That seal was temporary, just a patch. This one will be more resilient. It's important we keep the Red Dragon's power in check until you're strong enough to handle it on your own."
She knelt in front of Artoria, who lifted her shirt slightly to reveal her toned stomach. Morgan's fingers glowed with magic as she traced a circular sigil in the air, red lines of arcane energy weaving together.
"This might sting a little," Morgan warned softly.
The moment her glowing hand touched Artoria's skin, the seal etched itself in a spiral pattern. Artoria flinched slightly at the heat, but didn't pull away.
A beat of silence passed between them.
"…Thank you," Artoria said quietly.
Morgan looked up, her hand resting gently over the completed seal. "Always."
Just then, a knock knock sounded from the hallway. Rin's voice followed. "If you're done sealing the dragon princess, we're gonna be late."
Morgan stood, smoothing down her skirt. "Come on. Let's eat something before class."
Artoria grabbed her uniform and started changing.
Later that morning, dressed and energized with a quick stop at a nearby bakery, the newly dubbed Kamen Rider Trio along with Morgan headed out toward Kuoh Academy. Along the way, they ran into Issei walking the same route.
"Huh? Oh... it's you three," he muttered, looking especially irritated when his eyes landed on Artoria.
"Yo, what's with that face?" Kay asked casually.
"N-no reason!" Issei snapped, puffing out his chest. "Just confused why Rias wants you guys in her peerage when she already has me!"
Morgan glanced sideways at Artoria with a sly smile. "I can see why~"
"Huh?" Artoria blinked, confused.
"Well then, I'll leave you all to it," Morgan said with a wave, turning to go. "I'll see you later."
As soon as she was gone, Kay leaned toward Issei with a smirk. "You know, jealousy's not a good look."
"Jealous?! I'm not jealous of Artoria!" Issei snapped.
"No one said you were," Rin replied dryly.
"I don't get it..." Artoria said, licking chocolate from her fingers as she finished off her third eclair.
"Don't worry, best bud," Kay chuckled, slinging an arm around her shoulder. "He's just jealous 'cause his girl—the redhead—likes you more than she likes him."
Issei's face turned a vivid shade of red. "Sh-shut up! Rias does not like her like that! I'm leaving!"
He turned abruptly only to crash straight into a young woman with blonde hair and emerald green eyes dressed in a nun's habit, knocking her to the ground.
"Don't just stand there staring at her underwear, help her up, you jerk!" Rin snapped, smacking Issei on the back of the head as he fumbled with his words, too stunned to move.
"I-I wasn't—!" Issei stammered, flustered beyond belief.
Artoria ignored him, kneeling to gently help the girl up. "Are you alright?"
The blonde-haired nun blinked, her green eyes wide with surprise. "Y-yes, thank you very much."
As she dusted herself off, Kay crouched beside her, gathering up the spare clothes and other items that had spilled from her suitcase.
"You dropped these," he said kindly, offering them back.
"Thank you. I'm sorry—I'm actually a little lost." The girl bowed her head slightly. "My name is Asia Argento. I'm supposed to be transferred to the Church here, but I seem to have taken a wrong turn…"
Rin crossed her arms, glancing between Artoria and Kay. "We'll walk you there."
Artoria nodded. "Yeah, it's no problem."
"And I guess he's coming too," Rin muttered, jerking her thumb at Issei, who was still bright red.
"Why not?" Kay added with a smirk. "The more the merrier."
As the group made their way toward the Church, they passed a small park where a young boy sat on the ground, crying. His knee was scraped and bleeding slightly.
Asia immediately knelt beside him. "Don't worry, little one. This will only take a second."
She placed her hands over the wound, and a soft golden light glowed from her palms. The boy's bruised skin mended instantly, and his tears stopped.
"Whoa…" Artoria said softly.
But Issei had gone pale, his hands trembling slightly. His stomach twisted, the air around him growing dense. That light—it stirred something inside him. Something wrong.
"You okay?" Kay asked, noticing Issei's discomfort.
"Y-yeah… I just… I don't know why, but seeing that freaked me out," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Soon after, the Church came into view. But as they drew closer, Issei's steps grew sluggish. His legs felt heavy, the pit in his stomach deepening.
When they reached the gate, he froze entirely.
"Issei?" Artoria asked, turning back.
"I… I can't go any farther," he said, backing up a step. "Something about this place… it just feels wrong to me."
"You don't have to go in," Rin said flatly. "We'll take her the rest of the way."
As Asia thanked them again and entered the Church grounds, Rin's phone buzzed. She checked the screen, eyes narrowing.
"Megid activity," she muttered. "Not far from here."
Kay immediately looked alert. "What's the plan?"
"You go on to school with Issei. Artoria and I will handle this one," Rin said.
Kay looked less than thrilled. "Tch. Fine. Just don't take all day—I'd rather not spend my first day of high school babysitting this pervert."
"Hey!" Issei protested, but Kay was already turning away.
"Good luck, you two," Kay called over his shoulder as he and Issei walked off.
Artoria and Rin exchanged a glance before nodding to each other.
"Let's go," Rin said.
"Right," Artoria replied.
With that, the two Riders broke into a run, vanishing down the street.
Downtown Kouh was already in chaos as Artoria and Rin sprinted toward the source of the Megid activity. Cracks in the street spread outward, chunks of stone hovering unnaturally in the air, all centered around a hulking stone brute—the Golem Megid—stomping through the district like a living wrecking ball.
"There it is," Rin muttered, pulling out her Swordriver.
"Let's henshin—!" Artoria began, gripping her Rekka—
But then, a blur of gray and orange light shot past them, slamming into the ground between the girls and the Megid. Dust exploded outward.
"What the—!?" Artoria shielded her eyes.
A figure emerged from the dust, the new Rider stood tall and confident.
"You babies should just sit back and watch!"
"Who the hell is this guy?" Artoria blinked.
The Rider inserted his Wonder Ride Book back into the slot on his blade and scanned it on the hilt's reader.
Genbu Shinwa! – Ka-bam!
Chunks of rock from the street and nearby buildings hurtled toward him, layering over his blade and enlarging it until it towered like a pillar.
Gekido Skimming Smite!
"Grand Judgement!" he roared.
Ka-bam!
A blast of light-orange energy surged across the sword. With a thunderous cry, he brought it down in a massive overhead slash. The blade cleaved through the Golem Megid in one blow, causing it to implode into a shower of glowing rubble and yellow energy.
Artoria's jaw dropped. "Holy crap…"
"...Yeah," Rin nodded, visibly impressed. "That was overkill—and kind of awesome."
Just then, a young boy wearing a white polo shirt and jeans ran toward the grey Rider, eyes full of admiration.
"Father!" the boy called.
"Sora!" the Rider caught him in a warm hug, lifting the boy up onto his shoulder effortlessly.
"Father, you were so cool today too!" Sora beamed with pride.
"Right?" the Rider laughed, crouching down to his level. "Your dad's super strong!"
"That's my father!" Sora proudly declared.
Rin and Artoria exchanged looks—equal parts confusion and awe.
"A swordsman… with a kid?" Artoria murmured.
The grey Rider approached, still carrying Sora casually on his shoulder. As he neared, his armor faded away in a shimmer of light, revealing a rugged but kind-faced man in his late 30s, his eyes sharp with experience.
"So," he said, stopping just before them, gaze falling on Artoria, "you're the one chosen by the Sword of Flames, huh?"
Artoria blinked. "Y-Yeah, I'm Artoria. Who are you?"
The man grinned.
"Kamen Rider Buster. My name's Ryo Ogami. I'm the Land Swordsman."