Private Vintergard From ruin

[Mystia]

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The fact that Hanno was rather worried about what they just saw was beyond obvious. Although his worry did not stem from the fact that they had just activated some unknown and potentially dangerous technology, but rather the notion that it might have been a cry for help. Letting out a faint sigh, Mystia looked past the fellow fae, her gaze falling on the device.

"Well... it kinda looked like a hologram? That means it might have been a message left behind rather than a direct communication, you know? I'll look at it either way, just try not to panic too much yet, okay?"

Trying to give the man a reason to relax, she smiled and gave him a few head pats before she scuttled over and looked at the device. Her eye indicated that it was currently completely out of energy and, therefore, likely safe to be interacted with. Taking it into her hands, she stood up and looked toward the exit.

"Hm... I can try to power it up through my friend outside. Though the safer option would be taking it to MIT... though I have a feeling you'd rather not wait that long, huh?"

She looked at Hanno with a faint smile.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno noticed the vague reaction of the fellow faerin, frowning slightly while allowing his mind to give a brief consideration of- 'Did I do something wrong?'

Considering her warnings that he had ignored, perhaps that was the case. But a following explanation made things a bit clearer, with the mention of it possibly being a message and the request for him to not panic too much showing that Mystia simply didn't want him to worry.

"... If this is a message... That may mean we are too late." Hanno pursed his lips at the thought, feeling a discomfort at his chest before suddenly he felt a hand on his head, making him blink and look at Mystia with a slightly surprised expression, resting a hand over his head when she finished patting it and remaining silent in a mild shock, until she spoke again, making him snap back to reality and seeing her faint, and reassuring smile.

"Right... Uhm, yeah. If it wouldn't be a bother." He answered, nodding with his cheeks faintly reddened as he finally took his hand away from his head, possibly following Mystia to the exit, but not before taking his shield, that blinked twice in curiosity about the situation she had just woken up to.

"If it is really a message. And a plea for help. Maybe, just maybe we can figure out what to do just in time."

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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What a cute reaction. Was Hanno a kid that wasn't used to such a treatment? Well, Mystia saw most people playing this game as adorable children playing heroes, so she often treated them appropriately, and this time would be no different. Unless he'd protest, she would spoil him whenever appropriate. But that aside, they did have work to do, and the fellow fae was very worried about it all, so the MIT inventor wouldn't keep him waiting, only winking and putting her index finger in front of her mouth with a small grin.

"No word of this to any MIT higher-ups then, okay? It'd be bad if we were caught breaking the standard safety protocol~!"

After that, the two made their way toward the exit, where the larger robot was still waiting, squatting down and trying to peer inside ever since the medical drone was called. Since Hanno was in perfect health, it retreated into a safety compartment inside of the large mech, ready to be deployed again whenever needed.

"We found something inside. Looks like a message transmitter, but it ran out of energy. Lend me your core for a bit, maybe we'll be able to revive it."

"TREATED LIKE A PORTABLE PHONE CHARGER, MY GRAND PURPOSE TRULY HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED AS OF LATE."

Despite the protests, it extended one of its sizable hands inside of the structure, opening up its palm to reveal a circular hole that had opened up directly in the center of the hand. Putting the device inside, Mystia and Hanno were sentenced to at least a few minutes of waiting before a sound akin to a microwave ding sounded from within the mech, the hole opening up again and spitting the device back out.

"CHARGED. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS - RESULTS INCONCLUSIVE. ORIGIN DOES NOT MATCH ANY SCANNED SAMPLES. RECOMMENDED STEPS - OWNER SHOULD STOP BEING SO LAZY AND ANALYZE MORE SAMPLES FROM OTHER PLAYERS AND LANDERS ALIKE."

"Hey, hey, I'm doing my best here..."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

At the small consideration regarding MIT and the protocols, Hanno nodded, returning the wink with one of his own and also putting an index over his lips. "I will carry it to my grave..." He said, then showing her a warm and genuine smile. "Thank you, buddy." He said, knowing his order was probably a bit tall, but Mystia still went with it, even if it had the chance of being something that no longer could be saved.

As they left, Hanno watched the small drone flying away, getting on the bigger mech that the faerins soon approached to. He tilted his head at the robot's statement, crossing his arms. "Nah, buddy, you aren't being downgraded. You are helping us out on a greater good." Hopefully, at least.

Upon acquiring the device and starting to recharge it, Hanno took a moment to lean on anything, be it the vehicle or some rock, resting the shield next to him while she wiggled her tentacles slowly, with her gaze shifting around, while Hanno shook his legs with a hint of agitation. Sometimes, he casted a glance at Mystia, averting his eyes and tapping his feet on the ground one last time, before the device was released again.

"Oh-" He perked up, along with his shield that blinked her giant eye.

The addendum of the robot brought a brief chuckle out of Hanno, and he glanced down at the pyramid. "Don't worry, we will get plenty of samples. Aren't we here doing this search exactly because of that?" Hanno reassured, then turning to face Mystia.

"So... What do we do next?" He asked, looking at the pyramid, then at the faerin.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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The way Hanno was nervously waiting almost made him seem like a student who was waiting to get results from a very important test. In a way, it was almost cute, but the girl knew just how painful moments like that could be. And, well, ultimately, this was not the case here. They were instead waiting for a device that could potentially enlighten them about an individual who seemed to be in distress. A topic that was far more serious.

Thankfully, the charging process went through without any issues, and the device was dispensed back out again. The fae almost expected Hanno to rush over and quickly activate it again to see if it would work, but surprisingly, he hesitated. Was he perhaps not all that good with technology in general?

"Well, it's been charged, so now we activate it again. Assuming there were not other errors with the device, it should function normally..."

Walking over to the still outstretched mechanical arm that held the small pyramid, Mystia pressed the button on the top without hesitation. Since they already knew it was not dangerous, she had no problems fiddling with the item, but for now, she observed as the blue holographic hues began to show themselves again.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno looked at Mystia, nodding for a moment before waiting for her to activate the pyramid once again, allowing it to glow in power, before it finally got its functions to start. It didn't take long for the small figure to flicker into existence, now looking far more stable, and having about the size of a wine bottle.

"A... AH! Error, error- Huh?!"

The figure flickered, looking around, fidgeting onto place before turning, facing the two faerins, leaning in as she seemed to notice they looked far clearer now.

Hanno watched the small girl moving, seeming to be a magia. Or at least the illusion of one. "I think it is working right now. Is it really a message though?" He asked, tilting his head, and waiting for the answer the hologram would pull off.

"Can you hear me? Eep!" She flickered, but soon stabilized again. "Ah! I thought I was done for... One more hour and everything would reset-!" Her movements were mechanical, but she showed manneirisms just as a normal person would, sighing and resting a hand on her chest out of relief.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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Taking a step back, Mystia allowed Hanno to be the primary recipient of the communication waiting to be unleashed by the strange device. And as it did, she took in the few words that were spoken and tilted her head to the side.

"Don't I have an egg on my face now, that sure sounds like a direct communication rather than a recording."

"UNDERSTANDABLE, OWNER IS TERRIBLE AT CORRECTLY PREDICTING THINGS. THIS IS WHY WE ALWAYS END UP IN SUCH AVOIDABLE SITUATIONS."

The small fae didn't offer any snark back this time around, merely shushing the bot for a bit to ensure that the side conversation didn't interrupt the magia hologram. Still, she couldn't help but lean toward Hanno for a bit with a small observation.

"I think I can make out mechanical joints... but is that also cat ears and a tail? How cute. Hey, Miss, can you answer us so we can finally figure out of this is a direct communications channel or just a recording?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno gazed over the mecha and the faerin, letting out a brief chuckle. "Hey now, no one knew what that triangle thing was." He said, not wishing to put a blame on the woman trying to help him just because they weren't aware of what they were meddling with.

"Still..." Hanno peered over the hologram, tilting his head as he crossed his arms, soon having a small bubbly smile on his lips.

"You aren't wrong, Mystia. She does look very cute... And if she has joints... She is a magia?" Hanno had to peer closer, closing his faulty left eye for him to have a clearer gaze on the hologram.

"C... Cute?! Heh... Heheh... Am I cute?"

The figure fidgeted a bit, resting her hands on her cheeks as her tail swayed back and forth, but then it perked up, along with the tails and the whole body gesture the girl held.

"Oh, ahem- Uhm, yes! It isn't a message, at least thankfully it didn't become one... I'm stuck in here until further notice."

Her ears dropped.

"Stuck?" Hanno questioned.

"Yes, you see, I was temporarily removed from my main body. I am tasked to run a magitech mecha to fight the saviors off that are coming for us, but this transport machine was taken down, so..."

The figure paused, looking at the two of them.

"NYAAAH?! YOU ARE BOTH SAVIORS!"

Her jaw dropped. She had just given away all part of the plans of the magia.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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Mystia's tongue clicked as she looked to the side upon hearing all of the magia's words. The realization of the situation was quick and rather unpleasant, much more so than she had expected from this whole expedition to gather scraps.

"Well, this is awkward..."

Her eyes then traveled to Hanno, looking at him intently as if she was silently asking whether they should disclose to her that the war was already over and her side had ultimately lost. That'd be quite the realization... leaving that decision to Hanno, the female fae instead pressed a different question.

"So this thing is not a message relay, nor a direct communicator... but a personality matrix storage? Unless you don't mean that you are literally inside of this little thing... Hanno, since you didn't say anything, I take it that this is not one of the magia cores you mentioned before?"

A good question to ask before they proceed any further. Though if it were one, she was sure that the lion would recognize it as such, given that he had warned her about them before.

"And also, wait... main body... um, do you mean to say that... this whole structure was your body?"

If so, then that was a tiny bit less cute than the form shown to them right now...

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno crossed his arms, half opening his mouth before closing, looking back at Mystia and then shrugging with a brief sigh. "Szofrit is gone by now. So you lost the battle, you don't need to worry about us." He reassured.

"Ah, so... We lost? I mean, I knew it. I don't feel her anymore." The figure explained.

"I feel a bit more of autonomy now... B-But you don't plan to destroy me, do you?!" She asked, worriedly.

"Hah! Of course not. No point on destroying anyone, right?" Hanno looked at Mystia with a grin. "We aren't murderhobos, and I don't think you are of any threat, not in this state, at the very least." The faerin frowned, seeing the state the girl was in, that was somewhat pitiful, but he decided to not comment on it that much, allowing her to answer Mystia's response first.

A relieved smile crossed the magia's lips, and she nodded. "Thank you! I was worried you would discard me. I don't even really remember why we were fighting you, to be honest." She admitted, then looking at Mystia.

"You are right, I'm stored in this pyramid! But... No, hehe. I'm not this machine... My sister was controlling this machine, but... I think she is gone now..."

Her ears dropped, but she didn't let it get to her for too long.

"I have a humanoid body just like this one. It is stored somewhere else though."

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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"If it helps at all, the Starcalled did choose the path of least violence and didn't kill Szofrit. In fact, they're trying to find a cure for her Dissonance!"

Perhaps that would help the girl feel a bit more at ease? It was always nice not to be seen as a murderous lunatic and all that. And while no good feelings were stemming from the revelation that their little pyramid girl had a sister who probably didn't make it, Mystia felt it best to focus on other things and not get swept up.

"By somewhere else, you mean... elsewhere in Vintergard? Actually, any chance you would be able to lead us to your physical body? This would probably be easier if you were more than a tiny object with low battery life."

Though that did bring about a question about what others would say. Looking at Hanno, the fae narrowed her eyes a bit.

"Um... would you be obligated to arrest her after returning to her body because she is a magia or something..?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Trying to cure her? Is that even possible..?" She questioned, before answering- "Affirmative, I can bring you to my body... I can still sense it, which means its signal component is still working!" She perked up.

"Well, that's at least one clue we may have." Hanno nodded, before pausing to glance at Mystia, noticing her more sensible question.

"A-ARREST ME?! WAIT! I'M INNOCENT!" Her eyes opened widely.

"Yes and no." Hanno responded, turning to face Mystia and ignoring the panicking hologram for a moment. "The proper protocol would be bring her arrested so we could have a full interrogation and know if she is in fact a Szofrit's ally." He said, blunt and direct.

Then, he smiled a bit. "But we are already breaking so many protocols." Hanno turned to gaze at the hologram, of the poor thing being stuck in it.

"Besides, she said something about having more autonomy. I assume you were also under Szofrit's control?"

"Yes, yes! I mean... Kind of? I didn't feel like it before, but at some point, I suddenly felt like everything didn't make sense. But... I'm also unsure of where I am, or even... What happened in first place." She sighed, a bit relieved that the knight wasn't going to arrest her, at least... From what she heard.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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If there was something that was beyond clear, it was that this magitech-based being was about as confused as the average lander about this whole ordeal. Perhaps unsurprisingly so, given that she was stuck inside of this small thing for the whole length of the battle, only now being awoken and found as the status quo changed considerably.

"Innocent..." the fae paused for a small moment, presumably contemplating something "Well, let's hope that is the case. This whole thing would turn a bit sour if... nevermind, let me rephrase - You say that you were here to be a line of defense against the saviors. I hope you weren't made to kill or otherwise maim any such saviors prior to this?"

It was a somewhat important question for Mystia, as it would, in a way, dictated how she would proceed from now on. She wanted to believe that this magia was indeed innocent as she proclaimed herself to be, but it was best to truly make sure. Even if she could easily lie...

"Well, we can see about finding your body for now. Assuming it will be as simple as following your directions... actually, I wonder if we could store you inside of my machine in the meantime!"

"TRYING TO FRACTURE MY PERSONALITY, ARE WE?"

"More like giving you a temporary neighbor. And we wouldn't have to worry about this flimsy storage item running out of energy again, or breaking, or getting lost... it is pretty small, after all."

Looking over at Hanno, she wondered if he had any thoughts about all of this. After all, the conversation was getting a tiny bit more technical.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"I'm... Not sure before everything happened. But..." She tensed up, fidgeting for a moment. "I was supposed to eliminate or capture any foreign unit that approached the territory, yes..."

Hanno frowned a bit at it, but it was expected, why else such a consciousness would be applied in a war magitech tank. His frown, however, faded with a bit more of humor at the interaction between Mystia and her robot.

"No one will fracture your personality, Bud-Bot. It is impossible to, anyway, your personality is too strong." Hanno chuckled with a grin, then glancing at Mystia, that seemed to be watching his reaction, before his grin widened a bit more. "So basically you want to share her mind? I will be honest, and... Don't take it personal, cat lady... But I would rather not put someone we don't know inside of the Bud-Bot." He gestured.

"I... I understand..."

The magia became a bit droopy, ears and all, which was enough to sting Hanno's heart. His lips pursed, and he glanced at Mystia.

"A-Ah, maybe you... Do you know a way we could at least supply her with energy? I have plenty of magic myself." He was a faerin, after all, and Mystia probably knew what he meant.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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"In other words, nothing can be proven as of right now. That's good enough for me~!"

Mystia chirped as she smiled at both the hologramic magia and Hanno, then hopped to stand next to her titan of a bot and patted his metallic side several times with a gloved hand.

"Ah, and trust doesn't really have much to do with this, to be honest. I wouldn't let her just be part of my software even if we knew we could trust her. Storing her inside is quite literally what I meant - storing. I can create an isolated virtual space inside of the programming of my magitech and my 'friend' here is advanced enough to do that easily. That way, there will be an isolation layer separating it from the magia here. Um... in essence, it's like creating a computer inside of a computer. Lower hiearchy does not have the ability to do anything with the higher one."

Did she explain that in a way too roundabout a way after trying to simplify it? Most likely. But she was rather confident that it would work. The worst their new quest would be able to do would be corrupting some sensory systems of the mech if they gave her access to those so she could still observe the outer world as they searched for her body.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"You are right, we can't prove anything right now. So it is better to help, and think about what we will do later."

Hanno smiled warmly at Mystia's reaction. Though, that was supposed to be expected, considering so far she was willing to break protocols for the strange yer complicated situation they had at hand.

Still, he couldn't help but think they were at good and caring hands.

"Th-Thank you so much!" She perked up, relieved even.

"So essentially a virtual machine?" Hanno guessed, reminding he had to use those a lot to access hidden sites and forums related to Terrasphere. It was a bit complicated for him, but he got the gist of how it worked... but that didn't hide the impressed look on his face, as he was unaware this kind of thing was possible in Terrasphere.

"Because if that's the case. I think we can do that, if you think it will be safe enough." Hanno nodded.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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"Yeah, pretty much. With magitech, it seems that a lot of things that are possible outside of the game with normal computers are also possible in here with it. Well, not exactly everything, but I can make this work."

Looking between the hologram and her mech, she tried to think a bit and nod to herself.

"I think it'll be fine like this... temporarily integrated with a virtual storage inside of our friend here with access to a secondary speech system and visual system. That way, you will be able to see and still communicate with us, but not much else... just about how you are now, but far more secure."

The battlefield might have been cleared of most dangers, but they were trying to pursue a trail left behind a magia that was their enemy not that long ago. Just about anything could happen, or at least that was Mystia's logic. Better be safe than sorry, and in this case, being safe meant not only protecting themselves, but also their newest companion.

"So... think you're ready?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

The explanation left Hanno with his mout half-open, always impressed at how flexbile things could be in that world, and honestly how cool magitech could be at times. He could only wonder if the people that used it as a mastery were geniuses, however... At least, everyone he met that had it was incredibly intelligent.

"That's great, you are amazing, Misty!" Hanno grinned, looking at the fellow faerin, and then at the hologram. "Well, if that's the case, I think you can get into the Bud-Bot." He said, relieved that they finally reached to a solution.

"Oh! Okay, yes ma'am! I am ready, prepared to be inserted into a temporary vessel!" She chirped, saluting and waving her tail back and forth, waiting patiently to be transferred into her host.

Hanno similarly waited, taking a firm hold of his shield and preparing for another travel.

"In that case, we will be counting on you, Misty, and you... Er..? What's your name, little kitty?" He asked.

"Oh, you can call me Mila!" She introduced herself.

@Mystia

 

[Mystia]

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With the praise, the fae couldn't quite help it but feel a bit embarrassed. Was it perhaps because of the nickname that made it sound more like Hanno was talking to someone younger? Regardless, she scratched her cheek a bit as she looked to the side with a smile.

"This much is nothing, really. But alright, let us begin. Not like it's a long and complicated process or anything!"

Taking hold of the hologram, she allowed the magia to introduce herself before nodding in acknowledgement and then moving closer to her mech. A panel on the side of his body suddenly popped open with several connection points visible, not much unlike what you could see on any regular device in real world that needed wires connected to it. Though one such slot was distinctly different.

"Alright, you already had the device inside of your mana-charging chamber so you're familiar with the shape. Augment the connection point, please."

"WHAT ABOUT THE MAGIC WORD?"

"I- I just said please though..?"

"OH."

The strange connector hole suddenly started changing as the metallic plating around it turned and twisted. Few moments later, the hole was shaped just like the device Mila was stored inside of. Inserting it, the whole area closed off again and after a few moments, the magia would suddenly see through the mech's eyes, and was able to speak through a secondary speaker inside of the giant body.

"Okay, I think that worked. Try saying something, Mila! Actually, I'm kinda interested why your body has feline features, never seen a magia like that... I can run diagnostics while you talk about it~"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Mila huh? It is nice to meet'cha, buddy!" Hanno said with a firm nod, almost instinctively offering a handshake but he managed to switch to his hip and rest his hand on it.

The faerin then noticed the changes on the mecha, whistling when seeing how it simply adapted to receive the new device.

"Ah, yes! It is nice to meet you tooooo- Her voice distorted as she was inserted into the mecha.

"Woah- huh... So much for medieval fantasy." Hanno chuckled, casting a glance at Mystia. "I tell you, it is hard to get used to this kind of thing in a world of mounts and blades." He gestured at the robot.

"Will she be fine though?" He questioned, but soon, an answer came.

"Oh gosh! Oh! Ooooh! It is so spatious here! Aaaaaaaaah!" She squealed happily. "So much freedom, I can even... Oh! I am not alone after all, helloooo!" She greeted the other intelligence that existed inside the mecha.

Hanno's smile widened a bit. "That's so adorable." He said- "I also want to know about the tail, little lady."

"M-My tail?" She said, remaining quiet for a long half dozen seconds, before the finally started: "You see... I wasn't always a magia... I don't remember too well, but I used to be made out of flesh and bones, just like you." She explained.

@Mystia