The Imperial Guard lines up outside the south city limits of Angelus, nine hundred of them line the horizon. The weapons they carry are standard issue railguns, and energy shields. All of which were powered by the soldier's individual output of intermediate magic, which makes a level head in this situation a necessity.
"Hold the line!" calls out a front line commander, "Do not engage unless given the signal."
The ground trembles, as each and every soldier keeps their eyes pinned to one direction. Moments earlier, the empire's defense agency received a massive blip on their radar. An indication that something big was coming, or already here. Guardsmen wait silently, readjusting their grip on weapons as sweat beads up on the surfaces of exposed skin.
A single moment passes, and the smell of blood has already permeated the air. Then, as the minds of those gathered begin to catch up with the scene, soldiers lay their eyes on an entire line of defense slaughtered. Weapons scramble to aim in just about every direction, commands are shouted from left and right, hearts begin to race, and magic integrity begins to waiver.
"By the empire-!" a young soldier gasps, "Do not falter, we are made for this!"
They all panic and search to find nothing. However, just before the blood hits the ground from the first wave of death, another clean line is cut down the middle of the guardsmen formation.
However, this time, a soldier reacts quickly to his partner's death, and he catches just a glimpse of what had been attacking them. The image of something large, metallic, and terrifying. Immediately, he shifts his gun and shield towards the direction he saw it move.
"Shit!" he screams shakily, "What even is that!?"
These soldiers have seen war, horror, cosmic beings that yearn for nothing other than destruction. None of that comes close to the turmoil they were facing at this very moment. Even with their powerful weaponry, they were being wiped from the battlefield like pencil lead against an eraser.
"Wait, I see it!" a woman calls out, taking aim with her weapon, "It's right there!"
Just as everyone glances over to answer her call, the unknown entity speeds into action before a round is released from the lady soldier. Clear as day, the remaining troops watch in horror as a human-like machine towers over her and picks her up by her neck. A bone in her neck snaps, and her body goes limp in its hand.
"Oh my days…" the soldiers raise their weapons, "Fire!"
Blast upon blast is rained down upon the machine. A horde of light and smoke clouds the battlefield, and the shooting continues. Some guardsmen fire out of panic, some out of anger, and some out of hopes they make it out alive. They didn't need to worry about reloading, only the amount of magic they could supply to their weapons from their body.
Though, as they all run out of energy, exhausted and drained, they lay eyes on the massive man machine still standing. An energy dome around it pulses, and dissipates. Its head turns towards the remaining individuals.
. . .
"... Why would people leave their coins here?" Elenore ponders, looking down into the Angelus City center fountain.
Through the water, she could see all kinds of coins. Even expensive ones, casted for wishes of the previous owners. A stray strand of her dark brown hair brushes against her eye, and she sweeps it behind her ear. Bringing her attention to the water's reflection. Looking at it, she didn't know how to feel. She saw herself wearing new clothes, with her hair nicely done up in a halo braid, and a long red hairbow. Her eyes shrink a bit in confusion.
"You know, stealing from a wishing well would be quite the crime," Leila walks up behind Elenore, with an ice cream cone in each hand, "If I were you, I'd keep myself out of it."
She extends one of the cones towards Elenore with a smile.
Elenore looks back towards Leila with a harsh glare, before snatching the cone and starting to take small licks in a defensive posture. The blue haired woman sits carefully beside her, and enjoys her own cone. She watches the animal life and busy people with content eyes. For a moment, the teen glances at her discretely. Before returning to her ice cream shortly after.
"You don't have to keep assuming I'm gonna steal, ya' know," she says, "It didn't even cross my mind."
Leila giggles shortly, "Oh, Elenore. I know it did," she looks over at the girl, "I can see your soul, after all."
"Yeah, whatever," Elenore rolls her eyes, "You creep me out, lady."
"I thought I asked you to call me Leila."
"I only refer to my rats by a first name basis."
Leila is honestly shocked a bit by the comment, "Woah is she serious?"
The first to finish the cone is Elenore, eating like her life depends on it. She stands up, shopping bags swing at her side. She starts to walk off, and tosses her trash on the floor beside her.
"I'm going home."
A ghostly blue glow surrounds her discarded trash and carries it like a gust of wind into a nearby public refuse bin. Leila finishes her ice cream shortly after, and stands up.
"Hang on," she says to Elenore, "You really think you won't get yourself in trouble where you're from? Coming back all dressed up like that, with bags of new clothes hanging off your arm?"
Elenore stops, and turns to face her, "It's none of your business, I can protect myself."
"What makes you think that?"
"I think it's pretty obvious, actually," she places both hands on her waist, "I've done it my whole life,"
Leila sighs, and shakes her head in a disappointed manner, "So, you're going to choose to continue living the way you have been?"
Elenore scoffs, "Duh, what other choice would I have? I'll never live like… This," she looks down at her clothes, "I don't have near enough money to afford this city, and no one up here would even bother hiring a Daemono dirt bag like me."
Leila walks up to her, "You're wrong."
Elenore raises a brow, "Huh?"
"I have plenty of room in my house, and I could get you a job at the cafe if you really worked hard to better yourself," Leila explains, "Why do you think I did all this for you today? It wasn't for you to take it all back to your old life, and forget about how you could live."
"Please, allow me to help you make a change in life, Elenore."
Elenore's signature stubborn expression returns. On the inside, she loved the help and care. This had been the best day of her life in years, and it made her feel strange. Leila's actions have continuously caused her to feel very vulnerable emotions. Ones she thought were dead and buried since the day she hit the streets.
For what seems like eternity, the both of them are silent. Leila, waiting for a response, and Elenore, staring down at the ground in a tangled mess of thought. Though, as Elenore watches the ground, Leila's open palm comes into view.
"Give it a try, okay?" she says, softly.
Leila watches as the teen starts to tremble slightly. Just barely enough to be seen. She lifts her head, and small tears begin to spill from the corners of her eyes. Her face was barely scrunched, and her whimpers were silent. For the first time in forever, Elenore felt a very warm, heavy, real emotion. Leila slowly pulls her in for a soft hug. Caressing her freshly brushed hair with a caring hand.
Elenore whispers into Leila's ear, "... I'm… Sorry…"
"It's okay," Leila says, "I'm sorry. For taking so long…"
On one side of the embrace, tears flood Elenore's clenched eyes. Starting to drip down onto Leila's shoulder. On the other side, however, Leila's eyes pin harshly to a black bird sitting atop the power lines. One that'd been there watching them the entire time. It makes eye contact with Leila, and after a pause, it flies away.
Black feathers fall in the air.