The demons at rainbow br.., p.15
Dragon Conjurer 5, page 15
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck, but then Phoenix jumped to his feet in the heat of his battle.
“Fuck,” Phoenix growled as his thumbs rapidly slammed into the buttons, and his character made a final move to slash out forward and lop the head clear off his opponent. “You!”
“Awesome, dude,” Nick chuckled as he looked back at the screen.
“Well done, brother,” Ronin said with mock reverence. “You have secured the honor of our ancestors.”
“It is what I do,” Phoenix laughed.
A pleasant wave of laughter rippled around the room as Phoenix flopped back on the couch in exhaustion.
“Good morning, everyone,” I murmured and walked around the kitchen table to kiss each of my girls’ lips. I hesitated a second before leaning down to kiss Ronin’s glossy black hair, but Phoenix was still staring at the ceiling, so I took the opportunity and pressed my mouth against hers.
I would leave it to the Japanese girl to tell her twin brother about us unless she requested otherwise, but for now, the idea of stealing all kinds of kisses from her warmed my blood all over again.
When I pulled my lips from Ronin’s plump mouth, Elisabeth smiled sweetly at me and quietly sipped her tea, and Nala shot me a bright grin while Steffi tilted her head in the slightest of nods.
They clearly approved of adding Ronin into our unique situation, and I was pleased to see they didn’t feel like announcing it to the whole room.
“Good morning, cutie,” Steffi said and sank her teeth into a juicy peach. “You look handsome today.”
“And you look unbelievably beautiful,” I murmured.
The pink-haired girl blushed proudly at the compliment, and she licked some peach juice from her lips for my own enjoyment.
“What’s the plan for today?” I chuckled as I sat in the remaining empty chair between Ronin and Elisabeth.
“First, food,” Nick announced and laid a plate loaded high with crispy bacon, perfectly scrambled eggs, and two slices of golden-brown toast in front of me.
“Thanks, dude,” I said. “Smells amazing.”
“Yeah, who knew Nick could cook?” Nala teased and plucked a slice of toast off the plate in the middle of the table.
“Hey, I have many useful skills,” the blond dude said. “Now, eat up.”
“So, what’s second after food?” I asked through a bite of the fluffiest eggs I’d ever had in my life. Then I immediately shoveled two more scoops into my mouth. “Wow, these are fantastic.”
“I know.” Nick smirked and lowered the pan into the sink.
“Nala and I were thinking about showing Ronin and Phoenix SEEKR,” Steffi told me as she brushed a few crumbs off her hands onto her empty plate. “Ronin said she is eager to share some findings with us, but we need to look through the Asian Academy’s database to access it.”
“Findings?” I mumbled as I glanced at the Japanese beauty, and I could have sworn she was trying not to bounce in her seat.
Ronin shrugged and kept her eyes on her food. “Yes, I know you are interested in legends. I wanted to show you a few things, if possible.”
“A very casual way to phrase it,” Phoenix muttered and rose from the couch, and he strolled over with his hands in his pockets.
I looked between the two twins for a moment, and their eagerness was palpable despite how straight their faces were. A small grin spread across my lips while I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, and Phoenix offered a tiny shrug.
“Alright…” I said slowly. “Then visiting SEEKR would be a good idea.”
“What’s this SEEKR thing, anyway?” the Japanese dude asked as I wolfed down another few bites of eggs.
“Scholar of Examination, Elucidation, Knowledge, and Research,” Steffi said with an excited smile. “It’s sort of like the Academy's knowledge database, and its brain. It sorts, organizes, and stores all the monster information that comes into AIMM, and it runs the holographic training rooms, and the world surveillance system that alerts us to monster activity. Ronin mentioned you have something similar?”
“Oh, yes, there is a supercomputer database at MAJK as well.” Phoenix nodded. “We do not have a clever acronym for it, however.”
“Well, the Japanese can’t be good at everything, I guess.” Nick smirked as he scrubbed at the dirty dishes in the sink.
“Anyway,” Steffi continued with a grin. “We found a photograph from your Academy's database, and I thought the two of you might have some insight into what we found.”
“It was of a painting,” Nala began. “It was a little freaky, to be honest.”
“Well, let us go have a look,” Phoenix said as he grabbed the last slice of bacon off my otherwise empty plate and shoved it hastily into his mouth.
“Yeah, I guess I’m done with my breakfast now,” I chuckled and squinted my eyes accusingly at the Japanese bacon thief. “So, let’s go.”
“Wonderful,” Phoenix laughed, and he strode toward the door.
“Hang on,” Nick said as he scrubbed furiously at a spatula. “Alright, I’m done.”
“Woah,” Nala gasped and slapped a hand on her cheek in false shock. “He cleans, too?”
“Ha ha, very funny.” The blond nymph placed the clean spatula into the dish strainer and walked over to join us as we moved together toward the door.
“Should we see if Wisp, Kit, and Doppelganger would like to join us?” Steffi asked.
“No, they went out to the training room before sunrise this morning.” Phoenix brushed his fingers through his hair. “They’re certainly still hard at it.”
“Well, since the photo is from the Japanese database, they may have already seen it,” Elisabeth pointed out.
“That’s true,” Nala agreed as we walked down the hall. “We brought it to Burkhard’s attention after the battle with the Hydra, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he shared the information with your Headmistress weeks ago.”
“What was the photo of?” Ronin asked as we stepped into the elevator, and the metal doors slid closed silently behind us. “This is a painting, did you say?”
“Yes, on a slab of stone, actually,” Elisabeth said. “It was of humans battling monsters.”
“I do believe that might be the image that was shared with the entire Academy the week before we left Japan to come here.” Ronin nodded at her twin as the elevator slid open.
“Could be,” Phoenix agreed. “I cannot be sure. We have been studying many ancient images at the Academy lately.”
“Us, too,” I agreed, and the Japanese beauty smiled up at me.
We walked silently out of the main building and across the short distance to the library, and it was a balmy morning. The sunlight and cooler air were so pleasant on my face that even my dragons squirmed in response, but then we ducked inside the library, and we strode up to the circulation desk.
“Good morning,” Ms. Wright, the librarian, greeted us. “What can I do for you?”
“Good morning, Ms. Wright.” Steffi smiled politely. “This is Ronin and Phoenix, they’ve joined us from the Japanese Academy for a time.”
“How do you do?” The middle-aged woman smiled welcomingly at the dark-haired twins, and she folded her hands in front of her in the most professional manner.
“Very well, thank you,” Phoenix said with his usual charm.
Ronin nodded politely and leaned forward in a small, formal bow.
“We’d like to show them SEEKR and see how it compares with the database they have at MAJK.” Steffi waved a hand casually, but I could see the excitement build in her eyes at the chance to get her hands on the supercomputer that was the brains of this entire academy again.
“Ms. Foster, you know this database isn’t something we allow just any cadet to access,” the librarian said in a prim tone. “Your previous visit was a one-time circumstance.”
“Yes, I understand,” the pink-haired girl replied, “but as you might recall, Dylan is in the middle of an extensive and ongoing study with Dr. Hastings, and--”
“Steff,” I sighed and stepped forward.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You’re name-dropping,” I muttered, and then I offered a grin to the librarian. “We’re just showing the liaisons from MAJK around the Academy at Burkhard’s request. I thought it would be a good idea to see how our own systems compare with those of the Japanese Academy.”
“Oh, I see.” Ms. Wright adjusted her glasses and straightened her posture a bit as she glanced at Ronin and Phoenix. “Well, we certainly have only the most advanced operating systems here within AIMM. I am sure MAJK has plenty to offer… but we are constantly upgrading our facilities, so you might find our SEEKR to be rather complex. Of course, we don’t permit lower ranking cadets to access this particular area of our library, but seeing as our very own Dragon Conjurer is a red ranking cadet, as so few are these days, I do allow him access from time to time.”
“I see.” Phoenix nodded, but I could tell he was fighting against a smile. “Yes, this sounds almost elite. Your system must be… very impressive.”
“It is,” the librarian agreed.
I raised my eyebrows at the haughty look on Ms. Wright’s face, and I could see my girls all grinning out of the corner of my eye.
Apparently, the competitive streak among the Academies ran deeper than I was aware. Even the librarian was in on it.
“So, would it be alright if we take a look?” I asked.
“Oh, certainly, Mr. Cooper, you know our Dragon Conjurer is always welcome,” Ms. Wright said, and she offered me an over-familiar smile. Then she curled a neon-green nail at me, stepped out from behind the circulation desk, and sauntered toward the labyrinth of bookshelves.
“Now who’s name dropping?” Steffi whispered.
“Our very own Dragon Conjurer?” Nala quietly snickered.
“I didn’t realize we shared you with the librarian, Dylan,” Elisabeth said in a teasing tone.
“Everyone wants some of that dragon love,” Nick chuckled.
“Alright, that’s enough,” I sighed. “She’s just--”
“Very proud,” Steffi giggled.
“Well, Dylan is a red ranking cadet, which is very rare, I’m told,” Phoenix added with a grin. “And… a Dragon Conjurer, was it?”
“Yes, I believe that is what the kind woman said.” Ronin nodded sagely. “Their very own Dragon Conjurer. Quite elite. I am humbled.”
“As you should be,” Nick sighed.
“Okay, you know what?” I muttered, and I strolled off to follow the librarian while Nala giggled and looped her arm in mine.
The seven of us followed the middle-aged librarian through the maze of shelves for a few minutes before we arrived at the furthest sections of books. I recalled the last time my team and I had been here the books had been dusty and covered in cobwebs, but it appeared as though Ms. Wright had made the time to get around to dusting. The shelves were clear of cobwebs, and the thick smell of dust was much less stifling now.
We took a final turn around the last row of freshly-dusted shelves, and the enormous metal door that housed SEEKR came into view.
“If you please?” Ms. Wright motioned with a single finger for us to turn around. “I’ll enter the code to let you in. I’m not entirely sure how MAJK conducts things within their facility, but we take security very seriously here at AIMM.”
“Of course,” I said and turned my back promptly. The rest of my team and the Japanese twins followed suit.
“Very impressive,” Ronin quietly muttered, and I discreetly reached over to tweak her backend.
The Japanese beauty gave only the tiniest squeak while she stayed perfectly still, and I heard the gentle digital beep as the librarian entered the lengthy code into the keypad at the left of SEEKR’s door.
“Alright, you may enter.” Ms. Wright tucked a stray lock of hair back into place beside her blue streak. “Call if you need anything at all Mr. Cooper and do share with me what you find. I’m rather curious about the differences between our systems and the other Academies’, though I’m sure your liaisons will find SEEKR to be quite impressive.”
“I am certain you are correct,” Ronin said with a completely stoic expression. “I am already thoroughly impressed.”
Ms. Wright couldn’t seem to help smiling smugly, and she even patted me on the arm like I’d never seen her do before she strolled off through the books with her nose tilted just slightly higher.
“Thank you,” Steffi called out to the librarian before she turned to push the door the rest of the way open. “Come on, Dragon Conjurer.”
“Yes, allow me to escort you,” Elisabeth giggled.
I chuckled as the French girl and Nala led me in with their arms looped with mine, and the whole group was snickering as the automatic lights illuminated the room. The SEEKR came into view, and the tall, cylindrical tower of computers seemed to gleam in the center of a room while the four walls of floor to ceiling touch screen monitors remained dark.
Phoenix let out a low whistle, and I couldn’t help feeling almost as smug as Ms. Wright when I saw Ronin looking much less stoic.
“Wow, this really is impressive,” Ronin hummed as she turned slowly to look around the large room.
“Let me pull up the photo!” Steffi stepped right up to the tower and started typing rapidly on the keyboard. After a moment, she found the file she was looking for and swiped with a single finger to cast the image onto one of the wall-sized screens in front of us.
“Ah, this,” Phoenix murmured as he inspected the life-sized stone painting projected on the wall.
“Yes, our Headmistress sent this around the Academy the week before we left, she made it required study,” Ronin agreed. “She was rather elusive about its origins. Now, I suppose it was a bit of wounded pride that another Academy had stumbled upon the information in our own archives before we did.”
“Well, I am pretty good at what I do,” Steffi sighed lightly, and we all turned to study the enormous image on the wall.
The photo was of a centuries-old painting on a large stone tablet. The image depicted a battle between ancient humans and an army of monsters. At first glance, it seemed almost ordinary for a world filled with real-life monsters, but upon closer inspection, we’d noticed that the monsters were organized in a strategic battle formation. The tiger-like creatures stood in rows, and behind them were three more lines of winged monkeys holding bows. The most distressing aspect of the image wasn’t the apparent cooperation between the flying monkeys and the tiger-monsters, or even the clear military-style arrangement of their lines, but the humanoid creature at the front.
The leader of the two monster armies stood on two legs with a human-like head and was dressed in multi-colored clothing. Huge, white-feathered wings covered the creature’s back, and a pair of spiral horns protruded out from its forehead. The horned creature held a sword out in the direction of the humans across the battlefield and appeared to shout commands at the lines of tigers and monkeys.
“How much data does MAJK have about things like this?” Elisabeth asked. “AMIE has a tendency to scan in artifacts from history and then allow them to sit unstudied unless a specific need arises.”
“After this image was shared around to all our fellow cadets I went and did a little digging out of curiosity.” Ronin clasped her hands in front of her, and it pressed her luscious breasts together in a very distracting way. “I spent as much of my free time as I could during the week before our departure from MAJK pouring through the archives. I didn’t find anything the first few days, and I was about to give up when I stumbled upon something interesting with Phoenix.”
“What did you find?” Nala asked.
“This image is not the only physical evidence that has been logged and forgotten in the database,” Ronin explained.
“There are more?” Steffi asked with wide eyes.
“Yes, there are a few.” Phoenix nodded and gestured at SEEKR’s keyboard. “May I?”
“Of course,” Steffi murmured and stepped back from the tower of computers.
The Japanese guy tapped away at the keyboard for a few seconds before a dozen computer files sprang up on the small screen built into the cylindrical tower.
“Here we go,” Phoenix hummed, and he flicked the files onto the screen-wall opposite the painting of the battle my team had dug up a few weeks ago.
The files were all named with seemingly random letters, numbers, and what could be a year. The Japanese guy walked over to the screen and double tapped lightly on the first file that was labeled NAM001-87BC.
An image of an ogre-like beast with reddish skin, long black hair, short horns, and blunt tusks in a wide mouth came up on the screen. It appeared to be the source of every stereotypically Japanese depiction of a demon I’d ever seen. The monster wore a dirty looking shawl made of dried grass and was surrounded by hordes of wriggling slug creatures. The five-foot-long worms had gaping mouths filled with circular rows of razor-sharp teeth that dripped thick strings of drool onto the ground. The painting was so skillfully created, it looked like the ground slithered with the movement of the hideous creatures.
“This is a Namahage.” Phoenix pointed at the ogreish monster in the center of the swarm of slugs. “They’ve become a part of Japanese New Year’s tradition over the centuries. People dress up as Namahage to scare children into working harder, but the real ogres are hideous creatures that can only be placated with offerings of food and the occasional human sacrifice. They mainly terrorize the countryside and stay away from larger cities.”
“What are those slimy looking worm things?” Nala asked with a disgusted grimace.
“Those are Mongolian Death Worms,” Ronin explained. “They’re not very smart, they spit acid, and are completely lethal with the slightest touch. A swarm this size could easily wipe out an entire village in an afternoon.”
I stepped closer to the screen to study the image and spotted the remains of a small village in the distance and thick smoke that rose in the dark sky above it in the distance. A trail of human corpses littered the ground behind the oncoming horde of Death Worms. Whoever had managed to spot this nightmarish scene and escape with their life had done an impressive job painting the grotesque masterpiece.
