![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
My Friend Metus and the Caulis of Ferocity - Prologue
Prologue → Playing with Metus, Mini Banter → Event Episode → Mithra's Card Story → Epilogue (stop at the T/N) → Event reward voiceline → Mithra's Card Episode → Epilogue: Mithra
[ Northern Country - Open Skies ]
Heathcliff: Even after hearing all about these towers, I didn’t realise that it’d be this huge…
Rustica: Indeed. From here, it looks like it’s positively endless. I’d like to see for myself just how high it goes.
Akira: (I can’t believe a tower has appeared here too…)
The tower ahead of us was tall and imposing. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it as I approached it, riding behind Mithra on his broom.
A strange tower had appeared in one of the mountainous regions of Northern Country.
—— Or that’s what it said in the report we received, anyway. And so, I, along with Mithra, Snow, Rustica and Heathcliff, came here to investigate the phenomenon.
Mithra: ………
Akira: (Getting here was easy this time because we have Mithra with us, but…)
The twins had put on their adult forms to force Mithra to join the investigation, which put him in a foul mood, to say the least.
Snow: Hm… I sense an immense magical power along with an ominous presence. That tower must have sprouted from one of our beast kernels.
Akira: Those kernels were…
[ Flashback ]
[ Magical Manor - Meeting Lounge ]
Snow & White: You wizards over there! If we could have a moment of your time~!
White: As you all may already know, the beast kernels – yes, the ones that may or may not have been acquired under the table – were lost in transit.
Snow: Beast kernels look like beautiful gemstones, but they’re actually the remains of primal creatures that have long since gone extinct. Bones and claws and the like.
White: If it’s not obvious, they make for extremely valuable mystic tools.
Plant one into the ground, water it with magic, and overnight, it’ll sprout into an odd tower, homegrown just like a plant.
This incident is very likely to be related to one of our beast kernels.
Snow & White: Work together with the primal beast, conquer all the floors the tower has to offer, and return the beast kernel to its original form!
Snow: This time, I shall personally join the party. Worry not, for you are in safe hands.
[ Present time ]
Akira: Those kernels were the mystic tools you and White mentioned before we left, right?
Snow: That’s right. We had intended to use the beast kernels to create a set of proving grounds for the younger wizards.
We thought it’d be best to keep the kernels safe at the Magical Manor lest the Calamity’s influence tamper with them, so we arranged to have them sent to us. But alas, who would’ve thought that these mystic tools would be lost in transit…
If they hadn’t been affected by the Calamity’s influence, then we could’ve had the younger wizards train with them.
Mithra: It sounds like we just need to destroy the tower and that’ll solve the problem.
« arsi—
Snow: You mustn't! Do not do that, Mithra!
A beast kernel is an extremely rare mystic tool. If this one escapes us, then we have no idea when or where we could ever acquire another.
Come now, think about it. You could easily work alongside the revived primal beast and not destroy the tower. All you have to do is overcome the tower’s trials and climb to the top with the primal beast in tow.
Once that’s done, the tower will disappear and safely revert to its form as a beast kernel.
Mithra: That sounds like a hassle…
Listlessly, Mithra placed his hand on the back of his neck. The next thing I realised, Mithra’s magical tool – a skull – levitated upward, stopping next to his face.
Snow: Mithra!
Mithra: If you get in my way, I’ll demolish not just that tower, but you as well.
Heathcliff & Akira: …… (gulp)
Heathcliff and I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the hostility in the air between the two of them, but just then, a gentle voice rang out.
Rustica: I’ve heard that if a magic user and the primal work together and reach the topmost floor of the tower, the magic user shall acquire more power.
Mithra, you’re already so strong as you are now. I wonder just how much stronger you’ll be after you successfully overcome all the trials that lay in wait within those walls.
Why, you may even gain power that puts you on even ground with Oz sama.
Mithra: I don’t need to rely on that sort of mystic tool to give me strength. With or without it, I will someday become the strongest wizard to walk this earth.
… Well, that being said, what was that you were saying, about something or another?
Snow: I cannot say for certain, but there’s a higher-than-zero chance for you to gain strength from this venture, Mithra.
After all, wizards of the North aren’t good at cooperating with others. If you could acquire that skill, something within you might change.
Mithra: ………
Without another word, Mithra unsummoned his own magical tool.
Heathcliff: Phew…
Heathcliff, who was near us, sighed in relief. He was perceptive but prone to fretting; the tense atmosphere must have made him anxious.
Akira: (I should change the topic to something more light-hearted to improve the atmosphere here… I’ve got it!)
Akira: Remember that time we went to one of these towers with Rutile? The primal beast we encountered was really adorable!
It loved swimming around in the water, and its stubby little legs were rather charming…
Heathcliff: Oh, I heard all about it from Rutile. Apparently, it was affectionate with Rutile and had a kind personality, so they became fast friends.
Wouldn’t it be nice if this tower is home to a friendly primal like that…
Rustica: I’ve also heard that entering the tower will even give us a new change of clothes.
I must say, I’m quite looking forward to meeting a primal, but a new outfit sounds delightful as well.
[ Roaring… Growling… ]
Heathcliff & Akira: …!
Rustica: Oya, what a chorus of cheerful cries.
Snow: Ohoho. That’s the sound of a warm welcome from the trials that await us within.
Mithra: Kenja sama, keep a tight grip on the broom. If you fail to hold on, you shall fall and die.
Akira: G-Got it!
[ Screen goes dark ]
[ No BGM ]
Just like our previous expeditions into these towers, we entered through a window-like hole on the ground floor.
Mithra: It’s dark in here…
« arsim »
[ Caulis Tower ]
Our surroundings lit up as soon as the last syllable of Mithra’s spell-word fell from his lips.
Without us realising it, we had changed into brand new outfits.
Rustica: My, my. Don’t you all look so very stunning? Chic black, contrasted against a wonderful purple! It’s a mature, polished look that everyone’s wearing with panache.
[ Growling… ]
Akira: !
There was a low growling noise coming from somewhere deeper in the tower, some distance away.
[ Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! ]
After the growling, there was a deafening noise — like the sound of a creature so heavy that its footsteps made the ground shake and shudder.
Mithra: ………
Mithra turned to face the direction of the footsteps, though there was only darkness that way. His eyes narrowed.
Heathcliff: Kenja sama, behind me.
Akira: Heath… Thank you ver—
Akira: … Eek!
From behind Heathcliff, I couldn’t help but let out a frightened squeak.
[ Caulis BGM ]
… A giant creature emerged out of the darkness. Its large mouth opened to reveal sharp fangs. Its aqua eyes glowered down on us imposingly. The top of its head was a skull, made of exposed bone. The bone continued down its spine, taking the shape of protrusions growing out of its back.
The bone was like armour on it. It was the sort of creature I could’ve only seen in made-up stories.
[ Roar! ]
Mithra: « arsim »
The moment their eyes met, Mithra and the beast leapt into action faster than I could see, clashing in a show of might.
Snow: Mithra! You’re not supposed to attack! That’s the primal beast in question!
Mithra: Huh? You mean this brute that suddenly attacked me?
You said that the primal beast would cooperate with us or something, did you not?
Snow: Indeed, I had. Although it’s unexpected, this could work out just as well. After all, you two have a great deal in common as two rowdy little—
[ Roar!! ]
Snow: Kyaa—!?
Heathcliff: It attacked Snow sama too?!
Akira: Oh no, now it’s rearing at Mithra again…!
Rustica: … Perhaps it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume that this primal beast is drawn to wizards possessing great magical strength?
Snow: (grumbling noises) …… If that is indeed the case, then that means I can’t let my guard down the entire time we’re in this tower.
Mithra: (sigh) …… You’re a stubborn one.
« arsim »
[ The primal beast roars in pain as it crashes to the ground. ]
Heathcliff: He took out the primal beast…!
Mithra: Metus, I have now demonstrated to you the difference in power between us. You shall obey me.
Rustica: Metus? Is that the primal’s name?
Mithra: It probably is. While I was fighting it, that name sort of popped up in my mind.
Akira: Oh, Arthur and the others said the same too.
Rustica: That means Mithra and the primal have successfully established a heartfelt connection. What a wonderful development.
[ Metus growls as Snow speaks. ]
Snow: Ohoho. What a stubborn beast you are, to get back up onto your feet so soon after Mithra’s beaten you to a pulp.
Mithra: … Huh. Guess it’s got some guts.
Mithra: Come on now, Metus. Hurry up and let’s get moving.
With that, after the tower’s strange and sudden appearance, and meeting the primal beast, the Sage’s Wizards began their next adventure.
Playing with Metus, Mini Banter →
[ Northern Country - Open Skies ]
Heathcliff: Even after hearing all about these towers, I didn’t realise that it’d be this huge…
Rustica: Indeed. From here, it looks like it’s positively endless. I’d like to see for myself just how high it goes.
Akira: (I can’t believe a tower has appeared here too…)
The tower ahead of us was tall and imposing. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it as I approached it, riding behind Mithra on his broom.
A strange tower had appeared in one of the mountainous regions of Northern Country.
—— Or that’s what it said in the report we received, anyway. And so, I, along with Mithra, Snow, Rustica and Heathcliff, came here to investigate the phenomenon.
Mithra: ………
Akira: (Getting here was easy this time because we have Mithra with us, but…)
The twins had put on their adult forms to force Mithra to join the investigation, which put him in a foul mood, to say the least.
Snow: Hm… I sense an immense magical power along with an ominous presence. That tower must have sprouted from one of our beast kernels.
Akira: Those kernels were…
[ Flashback ]
[ Magical Manor - Meeting Lounge ]
Snow & White: You wizards over there! If we could have a moment of your time~!
White: As you all may already know, the beast kernels – yes, the ones that may or may not have been acquired under the table – were lost in transit.
Snow: Beast kernels look like beautiful gemstones, but they’re actually the remains of primal creatures that have long since gone extinct. Bones and claws and the like.
White: If it’s not obvious, they make for extremely valuable mystic tools.
Plant one into the ground, water it with magic, and overnight, it’ll sprout into an odd tower, homegrown just like a plant.
This incident is very likely to be related to one of our beast kernels.
Snow & White: Work together with the primal beast, conquer all the floors the tower has to offer, and return the beast kernel to its original form!
Snow: This time, I shall personally join the party. Worry not, for you are in safe hands.
[ Present time ]
Akira: Those kernels were the mystic tools you and White mentioned before we left, right?
Snow: That’s right. We had intended to use the beast kernels to create a set of proving grounds for the younger wizards.
We thought it’d be best to keep the kernels safe at the Magical Manor lest the Calamity’s influence tamper with them, so we arranged to have them sent to us. But alas, who would’ve thought that these mystic tools would be lost in transit…
If they hadn’t been affected by the Calamity’s influence, then we could’ve had the younger wizards train with them.
Mithra: It sounds like we just need to destroy the tower and that’ll solve the problem.
« arsi—
Snow: You mustn't! Do not do that, Mithra!
A beast kernel is an extremely rare mystic tool. If this one escapes us, then we have no idea when or where we could ever acquire another.
Come now, think about it. You could easily work alongside the revived primal beast and not destroy the tower. All you have to do is overcome the tower’s trials and climb to the top with the primal beast in tow.
Once that’s done, the tower will disappear and safely revert to its form as a beast kernel.
Mithra: That sounds like a hassle…
Listlessly, Mithra placed his hand on the back of his neck. The next thing I realised, Mithra’s magical tool – a skull – levitated upward, stopping next to his face.
Snow: Mithra!
Mithra: If you get in my way, I’ll demolish not just that tower, but you as well.
Heathcliff & Akira: …… (gulp)
Heathcliff and I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the hostility in the air between the two of them, but just then, a gentle voice rang out.
Rustica: I’ve heard that if a magic user and the primal work together and reach the topmost floor of the tower, the magic user shall acquire more power.
Mithra, you’re already so strong as you are now. I wonder just how much stronger you’ll be after you successfully overcome all the trials that lay in wait within those walls.
Why, you may even gain power that puts you on even ground with Oz sama.
Mithra: I don’t need to rely on that sort of mystic tool to give me strength. With or without it, I will someday become the strongest wizard to walk this earth.
… Well, that being said, what was that you were saying, about something or another?
Snow: I cannot say for certain, but there’s a higher-than-zero chance for you to gain strength from this venture, Mithra.
After all, wizards of the North aren’t good at cooperating with others. If you could acquire that skill, something within you might change.
Mithra: ………
Without another word, Mithra unsummoned his own magical tool.
Heathcliff: Phew…
Heathcliff, who was near us, sighed in relief. He was perceptive but prone to fretting; the tense atmosphere must have made him anxious.
Akira: (I should change the topic to something more light-hearted to improve the atmosphere here… I’ve got it!)
Akira: Remember that time we went to one of these towers with Rutile? The primal beast we encountered was really adorable!
It loved swimming around in the water, and its stubby little legs were rather charming…
Heathcliff: Oh, I heard all about it from Rutile. Apparently, it was affectionate with Rutile and had a kind personality, so they became fast friends.
Wouldn’t it be nice if this tower is home to a friendly primal like that…
Rustica: I’ve also heard that entering the tower will even give us a new change of clothes.
I must say, I’m quite looking forward to meeting a primal, but a new outfit sounds delightful as well.
[ Roaring… Growling… ]
Heathcliff & Akira: …!
Rustica: Oya, what a chorus of cheerful cries.
Snow: Ohoho. That’s the sound of a warm welcome from the trials that await us within.
Mithra: Kenja sama, keep a tight grip on the broom. If you fail to hold on, you shall fall and die.
Akira: G-Got it!
[ Screen goes dark ]
[ No BGM ]
Just like our previous expeditions into these towers, we entered through a window-like hole on the ground floor.
Mithra: It’s dark in here…
« arsim »
[ Caulis Tower ]
Our surroundings lit up as soon as the last syllable of Mithra’s spell-word fell from his lips.
Without us realising it, we had changed into brand new outfits.
Rustica: My, my. Don’t you all look so very stunning? Chic black, contrasted against a wonderful purple! It’s a mature, polished look that everyone’s wearing with panache.
[ Growling… ]
Akira: !
There was a low growling noise coming from somewhere deeper in the tower, some distance away.
[ Stomp! Stomp! Stomp! ]
After the growling, there was a deafening noise — like the sound of a creature so heavy that its footsteps made the ground shake and shudder.
Mithra: ………
Mithra turned to face the direction of the footsteps, though there was only darkness that way. His eyes narrowed.
Heathcliff: Kenja sama, behind me.
Akira: Heath… Thank you ver—
Akira: … Eek!
From behind Heathcliff, I couldn’t help but let out a frightened squeak.
[ Caulis BGM ]
… A giant creature emerged out of the darkness. Its large mouth opened to reveal sharp fangs. Its aqua eyes glowered down on us imposingly. The top of its head was a skull, made of exposed bone. The bone continued down its spine, taking the shape of protrusions growing out of its back.
The bone was like armour on it. It was the sort of creature I could’ve only seen in made-up stories.
[ Roar! ]
Mithra: « arsim »
The moment their eyes met, Mithra and the beast leapt into action faster than I could see, clashing in a show of might.
Snow: Mithra! You’re not supposed to attack! That’s the primal beast in question!
Mithra: Huh? You mean this brute that suddenly attacked me?
You said that the primal beast would cooperate with us or something, did you not?
Snow: Indeed, I had. Although it’s unexpected, this could work out just as well. After all, you two have a great deal in common as two rowdy little—
[ Roar!! ]
Snow: Kyaa—!?
Heathcliff: It attacked Snow sama too?!
Akira: Oh no, now it’s rearing at Mithra again…!
Rustica: … Perhaps it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume that this primal beast is drawn to wizards possessing great magical strength?
Snow: (grumbling noises) …… If that is indeed the case, then that means I can’t let my guard down the entire time we’re in this tower.
Mithra: (sigh) …… You’re a stubborn one.
« arsim »
[ The primal beast roars in pain as it crashes to the ground. ]
Heathcliff: He took out the primal beast…!
Mithra: Metus, I have now demonstrated to you the difference in power between us. You shall obey me.
Rustica: Metus? Is that the primal’s name?
Mithra: It probably is. While I was fighting it, that name sort of popped up in my mind.
Akira: Oh, Arthur and the others said the same too.
Rustica: That means Mithra and the primal have successfully established a heartfelt connection. What a wonderful development.
[ Metus growls as Snow speaks. ]
Snow: Ohoho. What a stubborn beast you are, to get back up onto your feet so soon after Mithra’s beaten you to a pulp.
Mithra: … Huh. Guess it’s got some guts.
Mithra: Come on now, Metus. Hurry up and let’s get moving.
With that, after the tower’s strange and sudden appearance, and meeting the primal beast, the Sage’s Wizards began their next adventure.
Playing with Metus, Mini Banter →