"...Oh goddess…I have become that which I hate the most…" Elizabeth was hit with that realization the next second.
"What is that Eli-Eli?" Rossie asked confused, tilting her head cutely to the side, no Rossie you can't become more cute doing that….Oh, who cares? She was indeed more cute!
"I am becoming the one that is making infodumps." Elizabeth said sighing.
"Stop joking and tell me, I wasn't there so I need to know what the deal is with this, if it is important and affects you more so." Jenna said grumbling, "I need to know, if they are enemies or not. I have some contacts within the [Galaxidae] who I will need to dispose of, so yes Elizabeth. I don't care if you become that which you hate, I need that information, so dump it."
…Dang it.
"*Sigh* Fine, so we talked about what makes a [Hero] one, and what they seek to achieve when they are made," Elizabeth said turning to Jenna, "How do you think they are identified?"
"With infosec skills." Jenna answered without stopping a second, "Or not? I wasn't able to see anything particularly special about you, Rena, or Rossaline before...So there is a depth that can't be seen by infosec? I know that Amelia would have told me if there was something special about you girls after all."
So this Amelia had good degree of infosec skills? That was good to know.
"Yeah, as far as I can tell, not even other [Heroes] can know who is one, Akira never said anything about me being one either," Elizabeth said nodding. "I do have some ways to pick up on that type of data though."
Elizabeth could always tap into the knowledge hidden within [The World] to snoop around, she was sure that it would give her some of the data that she wanted, granted. She may end up having to spend time with that purple-haired woman, but it was a sacrifice that would give her the data she wanted. So that was that.
"And? What's the deal with this? I assume you aren't dancing around the issue just because you love to speak with me?" Jenna asked after finally getting tired of this dancing around the Issue that Elizabeth had going.
"They wanted me to have Asher's children," Elizabeth decided to say in one go.
"Beg your pardon?" Jenna asked back confused.
"See?" Elizabeth smirked at that reaction, "I did the same spit take."
And wasn't that the truth, who even asks that of someone as young as Elizabeth? Like, what the hecking heck? Who even thinks about having daughters or sons that early!
Besides Rossie, Rossie asking that was fine because she was cute. And no one could convince Elizabeth of the opposite!
But that was fine with them because they actively had a relationship, besides Rossie liked to think a little too much about that kind of things.
Also, they had just lost Beatrice, so that was that.
"[Heroes] are known to be force of change in the worlds they arrive, they usually are greatly talented in comparison with the inhabitants." Elizabeth said sighing, this was mostly conjectures on her part, guesswork about why someone like [Evangeline] was that much interested in her descendants.
"Sounds logical, if a [God] is to summon someone to help and live at their [World] then they should strive to get as much as possible from them." Jenna seemed to also think like Elizabeth on that front.
"Well, usually the [God] puts a system to make sure their inversions are fulfilled to the brim," Elizabeth said with a defeated sigh and pointed to Rossie and Rena, "There is a reason the [Hero's Companions] are this beautiful and hot."
"?" Rena and Rossie didn't seem to get it in one go, but she nodded at being told that they looked good.
"...They set them up? So Rena and Rossie are your...No you said they were of Akira...So they should have..." Jenna seemed to comprehend it in one go, the problem about this system, "Then who are...who are your [Hero's Companions]?"
It was at the mention of that question that both Rossie and Rena stopped playfully messing around with each other. They both stopped and quickly turned to look at Elizabeth as if the fact that Elizabeth could have a [Hero's Party] never once crossed their minds.
Hadn't Evangeline said, or at least hinted about why the Student Council was supposed to be just that? Elizabeth was kind of sure that she had.
"Yeah, that was why Evangeline wanted me to join the student council," Elizabeth said continuining her explanation, what the hell had been Rossie and Rena doing?
She knew that they could see what she had been doing. So why were they this surprised?
They knew she had refused Evangeline's offer, of that Elizabeth was sure, but had they missed the rest of the conversation for some reason?
"Asher, Selen, Lily, Magnus and Evangeline were going to be my [Hero's Party]." Elizabeth said, continuing her explanation, "So Evangeline wanted me to follow that path, since that was the route that was pre-designed by the world. I was to join the student council, start a love comedy with Asher or Magnus, get in love and have their sons or daughters."
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Elizabeth couldn't help but shiver at the idea of that; she didn't mind the fact of having daughters or sons; hell, she had dreamt of having sons or daughters at some point, but having that shoved into her face?
And with someone she didn't even fancy? That was just rude.
And no, Elizabeth was not going to go into the dream she used to have about being [Shadow pact] 's wife, no sir. Not in front of Rossie and Rena!
"And Evangeline wanted you to continue with the [World] 's plans?" Jenna asked, her face serious and thoughtful.
"....Yes, and I do not plan to follow those plans," Elizabeth said before Jenna could say anything else, "I have Rossie and Rena. I have no need for the student council. Asher is rude with me, Selen is rude with Rossie and the only ones that could have some degree of goodwill with me are Lily and Magnus. Neither helped Rossie or Rena, so that goodwill was gone the moment they admitted to know their situation."
And that was a shame, she wouldn't have minded being friends with Lily or Magnus, it was weird seeing people that controlled and well thought… Or well, at least outwardly, the fact that both had gotten nude in front of Evangeline at her command and allowed themselves to be photographed meant that they both were nuts too.
"... You don't want to follow the [World] 's designs then?" Jenna asked, again, she seemed to be too serious, was…was Jenna going to become an enemy?
"....I am my own person," Elizabeth said cautiously; she started flexing her mana senses and manipulation, spinning her Cores silently as she prepared for a fight… One that she was not sure she would even be able to contest.
Elizabeth had never once thought about the idea of Jenna becoming an enemy; she was her childhood friend, and apparently someone who had Papa as her personal Hero. Why would she even do that?
Just because [The World] deemed it?
What about her own desires then? Were those not important? Just because some purple-haired woman demanded it?
"....Of course you are your own person, you are Elizabeth Starbright, the daughter of the man who saved my life and gave me a goal. And the girl who become akin to my little sister." Jenna said, nodding, a sad smile on her face, "But just like how your Father is more than my Hero…Just like how I am more than [The Juggernaut], you are more than Elizabeth Starbright."
Elizabeth felt it, the vast presence of hundreds upon hundreds of Echoes surrounding them, just a shy away from Zaanam, waiting for Jenna to call upon them to come.
"So tell me Elizabeth," Jenna said as she grabbed her cup and took a sip from the drink, Elizabeth had already forgotten what Jenna was drinking, "Do you plan to follow [The Word] schemes? Will you heed what you got told to do? Or will you do something else?"
Elizabeth was outgunned here, she hadn't felt so…small before, not against [The Shadow Tide] who she fought using his element, not against the members of the [Nine] she faced…Hell, not even when her [Dragon Empress] form postured against Jenna before had she felt this gulf of difference in power.
It was almost as if Zaanam itself was standing in front of Elizabeth, telling her to heed….
But it was not Zaanam, was it? It wasn't even the purple woman, instead it was Jenna…No wait, it was Jenna!
"Mordred," Elizabeth sent a quick command into the shadow haven, she felt her thought process accelerate, and could swear that she saw the briefest of smiles form on the face of her childhood friend.
"Yes Mistress?" Mordred answered at once.
"Did Jenna tell me to obey the world? Or ask me if I was going to obey?" Elizabeth asked, she was sure the girl had been seeing this whole thing.
"Lady Jenna asked if you would heed Zaanam's instructions, while she seemed to imply that you should. She never once seemed to mean for you to do so." Mordred said, then after a few seconds, she added, "Do you wish for us to prepare for combat?"
Did Elizabeth want to fight against Jenna?
Her prideful side may want just that.
"No," Elizabeth said aloud, both to Mordred and to Jenna, "I will not do something I don't want to do. Even if that means going against this [World] 's desires."
Elizabeth would stand firm on this, she was herself. "I am Elizabeth Starbright, and I will not allow myself to be toyed by someone else whims."
Jenna remained calm and steadfast, Rena and Rossie didn't seem to mind the atmosphere, and Elizabeth didn't even sense their mana gearing up either.
"Good," Jenna said, nodding, "You should always stand by your decisions. Your Father decided to hold the world's weight on his hands."
Jenna's presence dialed down, the faint Echoes behind her disappearing, only leaving a single one.
The one that seemed to look like her public persona as [The Juggernaut].
"And when the time to bear the responsibilities of such decision came, he walked forward without hesitation." Jenna said that in a somewhat sad tone, "Leaving us behind… but I am glad I will not need to give you a talk about standing by our principles… or have to deal with your girlfriends when you decided to discard love for the sake of [The World]."
….what?
"There was no need for your worry." Rossie said before Elizabeth could react. "Elizabeth already said that she would marry me."
Wait what? When did that happen?
"She also said that she would have me as the main mistress." Rena added from the side with shyly.
Okay, that one Elizabeth didn't mind. But she hadn't prepared her ring!
She had this whole plan about asking for Rossie and Rena's hand on a beach!
"... I see, then I need to search for my gala dress." Jenna said nodding, "Or will the wedding be informal?"
Jenna !?!?!?!?!
"A dress is fine, it will be a small wedding, a couple hundred guests at most." Rossie said nodding.
"You!" Elizabeth turned and glared at Rossie, "It's rude to rush things like these!"
"Oh, right. So you wanted a public wedding? I don't mind either way, so long we do indeed marry." Rossie said smiling as the cat that got the canary in the end.
Was...was Elizabeth set up?
"Of course we are going to marry, the only question is if you want to share the wedding with Rena or if we will get two different wedings." Elizabeth said back in a somewhat milder tone; she didn't really mind if that was what Rossie and Rena wanted, be it one or two weddings.
If Elizabeth was to be honest she would rather have two different weddings, in that way she could pamper each girl one at the time. Making sure that their respective weddings were set up for each one, Elizabeth guessed that Rossie would rather have a larger wedding compared to Rena, who probably wanted something more private and intimate.
But they were going around the important topic at a time.
"So... you don't mind?" Elizabeth asked turning to Jenna.
"Not really, I like wearing dresses too," Jenna said, nodding her head.
"I mean about me not doing what [The World] wanted!" Elizabeth retorted back, this was important, granted, less important. But still was relevant to Elizabeth.
"Oh that," Jenna said sighing, "If you wanted to follow suit what [The World] wanted you to do, I would respect it of course...I am aware of why and what form my powers take after all."
Jenna said and before Elizabeth was even aware she could feel [The World]'s mana shrouding Jenna, granting her all the power she needed just because she opened the gates.
And the next second...it was all gone.
"Your father was able to get to the place he got on his own terms, he could have taken all this power, all he needed to do was accept it you know?" Jenna said smiling, "But he didn't, he clawed his way to power one step at a time. He got offered it and declined it because it wouldn't be on his terms...So you not accepting what is handed in a silver plate is quite within the norm for someone of your bloodline."
Her bloodline?
"It is part of being born an Ashcroft; you all are as stubborn as it gets," Jenna said, laughing, "But yeah, it checks. I mean, don't get me wrong... I will respect you marrying other girls since that is what you want, but... what are you going to do about your Mother?"
Her Mother?
"You know how she is with cute girls," Jenna said, sighing, "And how she gets with pink-haired girls. I have seen her run away screaming when a pink magical girl got introduced... Did you know that [The Prophet] bleached her hair because of it?"
[The Prophet] was pink-haired?
"She already met both Rena and Rossie," Elizabeth said, processing that part, "And she seemed fine...?"
Elizabeth turned to look at Rossie after saying that bit, "She was fine right?"
"She was," Rena said, nodding, not that she was the problem of the situation.
"She was fine, she did visit us at the MPI before and helped me with something." Rossie said also nodding, "But last time she came around she even offered me a direct path to her [Divinity] if I ever needed."
Oh right...
"Not that I need it," Rossie said smiling, "There is only one [Goddess] I am willing to follow her skirt after."
....Perhaps Elizabeth would need to kill a [Goddess]? Not really, Elizabeth was aware of who Rossie was speaking of after all.
And that one was kind of cute, too, not that Elizabeth was able to mess with her...Unless she was willing to use her Shadow Doppelganger, but that was a little too... Narcissist for her taste.