Aaron (narration):
We trekked past the lab.
Yingli:
? I am sensing some mana coming from our destination.
Aaron (narration):
We approached the room carefully to see-
Aaron:
You are fucking shitting me!
Yingli:
Heiyue ofuda… but why?
Aaron:
Fuck!! In any case, we have to get outta here.
Yingli:
Yes! Let me burn them off. Fire bolt!
[Yingli can cast first level arts without any orbments up to 5 times before she becomes stunned and unable to act for while]
Aaron:
Hey hey, watch yourself, don’t tire yourself out using arts without your Xipha!
Yingli:
I am okay.
(Alarms go off)
Aaron (narration):
Oh fucking shit! Burning those things tripped the security here.
We got into the storage room and found my swords and Xipha. I turned it on to see my notifications blowing up with texts from Ashen. No time to respond! The ceiling panels moved and dozens of small archaisms dropped.
Aaron:
Yingli, you stay right behind me!
Yingli:
I can still fight! Please let me help!
Aaron:
Okay, let’s beat them up together bare handed then!
Yingli:
Understood!
Aaron (narration):
This is different from sword dancing, but we were still able to follow up with each other’s moves no problem.
Yingli:
Hehe, this reminds me of when we’re children!
Aaron:
Oh yeah?
Yingli:
Practicing Gekka together!
Aaron (narration):
We chatted back and forth while smashing the bots to bits. It almost sounded like music, we are so in sync, our rhythm is fucking perfect down to the beat!!
Aaron:
Okay, this is the last bunch! Let’s scrap them before the big one comes back!
Yingli:
Got it!
Scene change to the duct
Aaron (narration):
I read all of Ashen’s messages. She kept on asking where we were. Oh? And a few crying emojis?
Aaron:
Huh? I don’t think the Lu Family knows about what’s going on here.
Yingli:
Then those ofuda?
Aaron:
Very likely from another family. This fucking stinks! Let’s go get your stuff and figure out what to do next.
Yingli:
Understood.
Aaron (narration):
We made it to the storage room on the other side of the partition to get Yingli’s gear back. It’s sealed by more Heiyue ofuda.
Yingli:
Fire bolt!
Aaron (narration):
As we expected, that tripped the security and a bunch of archaisms dropped from the ceiling. Now that Yingli’s got her gear, fighting these bots was a piece of cake! We made quick work of them.
Aaron:
Hell yeah! Now we’re talking!!
Yingli:
I am so relieved.