To think, there are so many approaches to magic, it's unbelievable!
Recognised theories, unrecognised theories, they all can be applied to techniques. And depending on the theory applied, the techniques would change according to the theory used.
... I wonder if there are recognised theory counterparts to some of the unrecognised theories?
? The bill's here.
Right, right. It's been a month already, hasn't it? Well, I've had the worst luck of running into heavy rain whenever I need to pay the bill. I'm not sure if it's just pure luck, or if I'm just severely teased by God, but it always rains. Miraculously. Every, single, month. Without fail. I think I've emphasized its unbelievable coincidence by now.
... Well, no time to idle and dawdle around, I need to get the bill paid. I wouldn't want to collate the price of this, and get warning letters and have my electricity cut off.
The weather right now is an overcast. If I rush it now... Just maybe, I can most probably outrace the storm rolling in.
... Or, I can be totally wrong about this, and end up drenching myself and the bill sheets.
Usually I would bring an umbrella with me, but I just remembered that I left it at my workplace this Friday. I was so unfocused that I left it there by accident, and now I pay the price. Sigh.
If I went to get it now, the possibility of the bill sheets getting wet is much higher, since my workplace is much farther than the Award-winning Self-Service Automated machine, or rather, the preferred official acronym for it, ASAM.
This is a gamble right here. Do I risk the quick route, or do I get a safety net first?
... Time's ticking. I guess it would be worth the risk if I just ran straight for the ASAM.
*** ***
8:16am - I made it! The ASAM machine's distinctive green and yellow background with black letterings logo sticks out like a sore thumb. It looks like I came early too, since there's only one old lady in front of me paying her own bills. Now all I have to do, is tack all the bills before the rain comes!
I hurriedly keyed in the PIN code, and scanned the bill sheets one by one.
The display on the ASAM showed the same message with differing numbers.
"$26.74 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
"$51.98 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
"$172.13 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
"$36.33 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
... ? What!? The bar-code for this sheet isn't printed out clearly enough!
Is this a cruel twist of fate or something!? You have got to be kidding me!!! The characters... The characters...!!!
Let's see... 6AXQTVBWCJZBNPLE07...
... Darn, there's a U after the J!! Uhm... Uhm...!!! Back back back back back back back!
If it rains now, and soils this last bill sheet, I would most likely flip out in anger.
I hear the thunder rumbling. It's mocking me. It's going to rain before I finish keying this in...!!!
NEVER!!! IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!
"ENTER!!!!!"
YES! I keyed in the code before the weather got to me!
"$61.67 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
This turned out to be a really good day. As I turn around to head back in satisfaction...
... ? Ara? It's that guy from yesterday.
That... Guy, playing that game yesterday. What was his name?
"Are you done with it yet? I need to pay my bills too..."
"Oh, sorry. I just thought... I think I saw you yesterday."
"That voice... Oh, you're the guy that asked for my help yesterday? What can I help you with?"
He's pretty skinny, and even looks a bit malnourished. He's slightly shorter than me, is wearing a... White short-sleeved loose shirt with a Lederhosen? That's completely different from the casual home clothes he wore at the Arena yesterday...
... He looks like some guy who came out from Germany. His black hair says otherwise, but he really looks like someone from Germany, with that get-up.
"Oh, I did have a question, but that guy Kakain solved it for me. Thanks for the concern anyway."
"You're welcome. Now, if you would excuse me..."
He's holding a green notepad in his hand. The translucent plastic cover at the front suggests that it's something that came out probably in the early 21st century. Somewhere around 2003 or such, when plastic was used pretty much anywhere because of its versatility.
...? There's something written on the first page...
Those are... bill sheet codes?
Wow! That's ingenious! Protecting it like this in case of wet weather may serve really well as a back-up plan in case the bill sheets get wet! I have got to remember that. It would make my life so much easier.
... Ara? Why does he use this notepad immediately, instead of using his bill sheets first? Won't the bar-code scanning system be much faster than the manual input of these codes?
... ?
"$462.31 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
Four- Four hundred!! How does one's bills go THAT high!?
... His head drooped a little when he saw that message too. Doesn't he already know how much these bills were, if he's already written down the codes for them?
"$563.27 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
Five-!! FIVE HUNDRED!?! What the heck?
... His head drooped even more, as if he's embarrassed or something.
"Uhm... Mister... ?"
His face was twisted into an indescribable pain. If I may, it's probably how quickly his money's flying away from just keying in those codes.
... It's almost as if someone wrote the codes for him, and refused to let him see the bill sheets himself, almost as if it's forcing him to pay his bills regardless of the amount... How malicious.
"$263.92 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
Well, 263 dollars is a bit... of a lot, but I guess it's rather tolerable. I haven't used the air conditioners at home a lot, since my house had a pretty nice position where the night wind is always blowing into my bedroom. The hot air of the afternoon also blows into my house, but I'm usually home at around 2.30pm to 3pm, so the house is usually cooled by then. I doubt most houses get such an amazing advantage my coincidental apartment had.
"$1036.71 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
A THOUSAND!?! WHAT IN THE WORLD- WHAT!?! OH MY LORD! THAT'S INSANE!!!
His head hit rock bottom! It's a heavy blow to the both of us! I haven't seen people collate their bills all the way to a thousand! What kind of home does he live in!?
The rain's pouring now... Huh. Well, at least he's got one last code to go, and it's protected by the plastic, so it should be fine.
"$36.34 has been deducted from your bank account. Thank you."
... I'm guessing that last bill is probably for his phone's contract. My phone bill was also cheaper compared to my other bills, but money is still money. I can't imagine what goes through his head, seeing all the numbers subtracted from his bank and all...
Well, I should probably give him a moment of silence and not stay around here any further to comfort him, and the weather's starting to get a bit heavy too, so I'll be on my way, I guess.
... Wait... The weather's getting heavy... ?
I remember a bit from Kakain yesterday. That guy who is at the ASAM now... is Stratos, I think.
And his magic is... Manipulation of weather.
...
...
No way... Could it be...!!
It most probably is, but I'm starting to think that every single one of those rainstorms I've encountered while paying for my bills may have come from him paying his bills off in misery. I haven't been late for my bills before, I remember Mum saying "When the bills come, you have to pay them the moment you get them. Don't dally around, and pay them off immediately. When they snowball, it's all over. Don't be like your dad."
... I think I found the culprit responsible for the weather issue.
*** ***
The bills have been paid, and the house is clean now, so I guess I'm free to do as I wish for the rest of the day.
It's only 2pm, so... What's the first thing that comes to my mind?
... Homei.
It's not such a good day, since it's still pouring outside, but for some reason I feel like going to Homei's house to check if she's alright.
I understand that she sees me as a soul mate candidate, and I see her as one too, but I can't do it. Not just yet. I'd have to let her experience the world of v.vizards and v.vitches at least just once. Besides, even if I wanted to marry her immediately and start a new life with her, she's still underage.
I'd like to be more powerful too, to experience the world of v.vizardry just a bit longer. It's been years since I've had such fun. To think this all ends when my purity is ruined... Saddens me.
It's still raining rather heavily though...
... I guess I can forget about going to Homei's place for today. Even if I did go now, I'd be drenched because my umbrella's at my workplace, and my spare is in my workplace's locker.
Guess I'll just sleep.
...
*** In the darkness of the church... *** (Switch to Omniscient view)
A rather slender figure wearing a deep green robe stands behind the lectern with with nothing but hand gestures.
"Men. Thank you all for freeing me from my prison. I have assembled you all today to discuss with you our invasion of the Atheist's v.vizards' stage, the TATA."
He speaks, or rather, she speaks in a really stern voice, causing the crowd of people in the church hall to listen attentively.
"Allow me to ask a question : It is sin to take the life of another, is it not, my fellow priests?"
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
The crowd shouts out at the same time. Their unity is something both to respect and to fear.
"Exactly! That will be the reason why this, is our plan of attack."
The figure extends out her left arm, with a strange tattoo on the back of her hand that resembles three whirlpools and an arrow head pointing in the middle of them, and outwards from her arm. In her hand, is a live rat, gripped onto tightly from its tail.
"To take the life of a human is a gravely sin, and has significant results in tarnishing their purity. To take an animal's may not be as effective, but it will cripple their powers bit by bit. That is why every man here must breed at least 15 rats in a cage."
The crowd listens attentively, absorbing the plan of attack readily.
"All but 5 of those rats from every one of you shall be used in a surprise infestation attack, for the reckless v.vizards to lose their powers to kill them carelessly. The last 5 shall be tied to your bodies, as a shield to weaken them should they attack you! With this plan, we will definitely be able to succeed in taking over the TATA!"
The crowd starts mumbling very quietly, but not against the woman's words.
"That is all for today's briefing. Everyone, breed as many rats as you can. Long live the Holy Knight!"
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "LONG LIVE THE HOLY KNIGHT!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
The calm before the storm approaches. (Switches back to Vance's viewpoint next chapter.)
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