Non-Administrated World #97, Star Rail Universe…
As the red flash of light slowly faded. Alisa Bannings, a certified friend of three magical girls, was now experiencing firsthand what it meant to become one.
When she came back to herself, her school uniform had been replaced by a frilly dress. Flowing ribbons circled her arms, legs, chest, and hair before snapping into place with a bright, suspiciously musical flourish. Red, white, and pink filled her vision in a way that looked far too much like a magical girl costume from anime. A short cape fluttered behind her. Small wing-like ornaments formed near her hair, and a heart-shaped jewel glowed at her chest.
Ruby, in wand form, on her hand, was perfectly pleased with herself.
"Kaleido Ruby transformation complete!"
Alisa opened her eyes and then looked at herself. "J-ju-just what the heck am I wearing?!"
In her shock, she momentarily forgot the threat of the Quantum Shadow in front of her.
"Just your typical aesthetically magical dress with colorful colors made from love, courage, and friendship that improve one's charms as a heroine!" Ruby explained in a very bright tone.
"Just what are you talking about?! Isn't this just a magical girl costume?!" Alisa's face turned red.
"Very high-quality magical girl custume~."
"I am going to break you!"
"As much as I want to continue bonding with you, we have a monster to deal with first."
The reminder arrived in the form of the Quantum Shadow ramming itself at them.
Alisa's eyes widened. She raised Ruby on instinct.
A circular barrier of red-pink light appeared in front of her just as the shadow's body slammed against her. The impact pushes Alisa back by a few meters across the ground.
"Just what is this thing?!" Alisa clenched her teeth.
"A Quantum Shadow," Ruby replied, her voice losing some of its playfulness. "A charming little disaster from the Sea of Quanta. A monster with an unstable physical state and a terrible habit of not staying broken when hit normally."
Alisa stared at the creature as it looked at them, as if it was assessing them.
"So how do I beat it?"
"Simple, really~. Hit it until it reaches a state where it can be destroyed, force its body into a collapse state, then finish it before it rebuilds itself!" Ruby replied cheerfully. "Simple in theory. Terribly rude in practice."
"That does not sound simple!" Alisa complained.
The Quantum Shadow attacked again, and Alisa raised a shield to protect herself. She gritted her teeth as her arms shook from the impact. Power was moving through Ruby and into her body, but that did not erase the physical strain.
Just when her arms couldn't take it anymore, she let the barrier drop. The Quantum Shadow's limb crashed down where the shield had been, but Alisa timed her jump and pushed herself back.
Or tried to.
Instead, she jumped far higher than she had expected.
"W-whoa!"
She spun once in the air before crashing into the side of a streetlight. The metal pole bent with a painful clang.
"Excellent mobility!" Ruby gave a cheerful gasp.
Alisa slid down the pole and landed on her feet with a wince. "That was not mobility! Nor excellent! That was me losing control!"
"It's fine, my new master. First flight attempt is always educational~."
"You can't call that flying! All I did was panic, jump, and hit the streetlight!"
The Quantum Shadow turned toward her again. Somehow, it felt like it was judging her, which unnerved Alisa more than she wanted to admit. Her grip on Ruby tightened before she drew in a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
"I-it's okay… I can do this," she muttered, trying to cheer herself on. "If Nanoha… Fate… and Hayate can do this, so can I."
Ruby's jewel flashed. "Wonderful fighting spirit!"
"Don't sound too excited!"
"I am a magical girl partner. Excitement is part of the service~."
The Quantum Shadow didn't let them continue their banter. It rushed forward.
"Shoot!" Alisa pointed Ruby at it.
"With what spell name?" Ruby asked.
"What spell name?!"
"Magical girl attacks require style!"
"Is that something you're worried about right now?! That thing is trying to kill me!"
"Then choose quickly!"
Alisa's eyebrow twitched with pure fury.
"Fine! Magical… Splash Flare!"
Red kaleidoscopic light gathered at Ruby's tip and fired.
The blast hit the Quantum Shadow, knocking it sideways. Its body flashed white for a second before returning to its original dark purple.
Cracks spread across the place where the attack landed, but the broken fragments pulled themselves back together almost immediately.
"It actually work?!" Alisa's eyes went wide.
"For a moment, my new master," Ruby corrected. "That attack of yours actually broke its quantum layers and made it enter its collapse state, even for a second."
"Then I just need to hit it for a few more times!"
"Ohh! Such a heroine-like line!"
The Quantum Shadow tried to ram her with its body. Alisa dodged to the side on instinct, then swung Ruby like a baton into its side.
"Physical combat! How bold!" Ruby shrieked with joy.
"Can you stop sounding happy about it?!"
"What are you saying, Master? It was an excellent follow-up attack!"
The hit sent a burst of red sparks through the creature's body. It staggered, and the part she struck turned white.
Alisa noticed immediately. Her attack had not destroyed it, but it was enough to damage it.
"So I can also hit it to hurt it."
"Yes," Ruby said. "Preferably several more times."
The Quantum Shadow twisted unnaturally, its arm stretching toward her like liquid glass.
Alisa jumped back, this time controlling the force just enough to avoid launching herself into another streetlight. She landed roughly, one knee touching the ground.
Her eyes sharpened.
The Quantum Shadow moved again, but Alisa reacted first. A pink dome shield appeared between her and the limbs, trying to crush her. The impact was still heavy, but this time, Alisa held her ground. Her boots scraped against the street, and her arms ached from the strain, but she did not move.
"My new master…" Ruby's voice sounded impressed and worried at the same time.
"Do you have any special attack that can destroy this monster?" Alisa asked, gritting her teeth.
"I can gather infinite mana through the infinite parallel worlds to power up your magical attack," Ruby answered, surprisingly serious. "That should be enough to break its quantum layers and destroy it once it falls into its collapse state."
"Then let's do it," Alisa said without hesitation
"...But that would be dangerous for you with your current capacity."
Alisa glared at the monster through the barrier. "I didn't ask if it was dangerous."
Ruby fell silent for a second, then she laughed. "Oh, I really did choose my new master well."
Cracks slowly spread across Alisa's barrier.
"Hey, Magic Stick," Alisa called Ruby.
"It's Ruby, my new master." Ruby corrected her lightly.
"Then, Ruby, let's go with your plan. Do whatever you need to do and help finish this monster."
"Just a fair warning, attempting a high-power spell may throw you backward, damage the street, or make your hair aggressively dramatic."
"Ruby."
"…Yes?"
"Just. Do. It."
"Understood. Aim for the center of its body. I'll do the rest."
Then, finally, her barrier was shattered. The Quantum Shadow wasted no time and rushed toward her.
Alisa stepped into the attack instead of away from it.
Ruby's jewel flashed crimson. Mana gathered around the wand, spiraling into a bright red-pink sphere. Alisa felt the force tug at her arms, but she locked her elbows and planted her feet.
"Magical…"
The shadow raised both limbs as Alisa glared at it.
"…Splash Flare!!!"
The magical attack fired.
It slammed into the Quantum Shadow at close range, swallowing it whole in bright red-pink light. The force threw Alisa backward across the park, but she refused to let go of Ruby. Her shoes dragged hard against the street before she crashed onto one knee. Bit by bit, its quantum layers broke turning its body white, and Alisa's attack easily destroyed it.
Once the light from her attack faded, the monster was finally gone, and so was the dimensional tear.
Alisa's legs gave out, and she dropped onto the ground. Her breathing was ragged and heavy.
"A-hahaha… Ahahaha… I did it…" Alisa muttered as tears slowly built in the corners of her eyes.
For a moment, she didn't even care that she was sitting on the ground in a frilly magical outfit. She didn't care about the ribbons, the cape, or the heart-shaped jewel glowing on her chest.
She was alive, that kid was safe, and most importantly, the monster was gone.
Ruby floated slightly above her hand, the two jewels that served as her eyes shining with a warm red glow.
"Congratulations, my new master!"
"D-don't shout beside my ear!" Alisa flinched at the sudden cheer.
"Ahahaha, sorry! I was simply overwhelmed by the beauty of your first victory." Ruby spun once in the air, her tone was oddly proud. "A perfect debut! Fear, courage, panic, property damage, dramatic shouting, and one very stylish finishing spell!
"Property damage is not part of a perfect debut." Alisa stared at her with a wry smile.
"It often is."
"It shouldn't be!"
"You know, I can already tell that correcting me will become one of your favorite hobbies." Ruby tilted herself thoughtfully.
"It will not be a hobby. It will be necessary for survival."
"How responsible. How charming."
"Stop calling me charming!"
"Very well, my new master."
"And stop calling me that." Alisa's expression twitched. "I have a name, you know."
Ruby floated closer, sounding far too pleased. "Oh, right! I didn't get your name because of the chaos~."
Alisa opened her mouth, then stopped.
Ruby was right.
After everything that had just happened, it felt oddly strange. A few minutes ago, Ruby had been a suspicious talking wand. Now she was the reason Alisa had not been crushed by that thing.
Alisa looked away, cheeks faintly red from exhaustion and embarrassment.
"…Alisa," she said. "Alisa Bannings. That's my name."
Ruby's eyes flashed with unconcealed happiness.
"Alisa Bannings," Ruby repeated, this time with less teasing in her voice. "A strong-willed young lady with excellent emotional output, terrible first-flight control, and a courageous heart that runs forward even when her hands are shaking."
Alisa blinked. She didn't know how to react to that, because Ruby did not sound like she was joking.
"You really do talk too much." Alisa just scratched her cheek.
"Yes. It is one of my finest qualities!" Ruby immediately brightened.
"…That was not praise."
"I will take it as one~."
Alisa stared at Ruby for a long second. Then, despite herself, she let out a small laugh. It was weak and tired, but real.
"… Magical Ruby, right?" Alisa looked at her again.
"Correct!"
"And you're not a Device like Raising Heart or Bardiche?"
Ruby gave a dramatic gasp. "Although I don't know who or what they are. I am a Kaleidostick. A miracle-class Mystic Code born from the miracle of the Second Magic!"
Alisa stared and tilted her head. "I understood almost none of that."
"That is fine. The short explanation is that I help you transform, fight, fly, and perform very flashy magical attacks."
"And the long explanation?"
"The long explanation requires tea, snacks, diagrams, and at least three adults becoming uncomfortable."
"Why does that sound like something Nanoha, Fate, and Hayate would somehow get involved in?" Alisa rubbed her temple, then she eventually let out an exhausted sigh.
"Hmm? Did you say something, Alisa-san?" Ruby tilted her body.
"No..." Alisa replied, shaking her head with a wry smile. "I'm just finally, truly understanding the world my friends live in."
Ruby was silent for a moment. Then she spoke more gently.
"I don't know who your friends are, Alisa-san, but I can tell they are very important to you."
"Of course. They're my precious friends." Alisa let out a small smile.
"And from what I understand… they are magical, right?" Ruby asked. "So now, you are standing on the same stage as them."
Alisa looked down. "…Yeah. And now I understand how dangerous the lives they are leading really are."
"Knowing and understanding are different things." Ruby crossed her wings and bent her body as if nodding.
Alisa looked at her.
"You knew your friends were standing in danger," Ruby continued. "You knew they were fighting things ordinary people would never see. But knowing from the outside and feeling your own hands shake while still choosing to stand… those are not the same."
Alisa closed her eyes.
Nanoha's smile came to mind first. Then Fate's gentle eyes. Then Hayate's laughter. She had known they were brave. She had known they were strong. But now, with her arms still aching and her legs close to giving out, she finally understood that their smiles were not proof that they were always safe. They were proof that they kept standing anyway.
"…So this is what it feels like," Alisa whispered. "Not just watching them come back. Not just worrying. Actually experiencing where they stand."
Ruby moved closer to her side. "But I know you are no less heroic than your friends!"
Alisa turned to Ruby, eyes wide at her words.
"Even when you're scared and weak," Ruby continued. "That didn't stop you from saving that child."
"That sounds like something Nanoha would say." Alisa let out a small, tired laugh.
"Then your friend has excellent taste in heroic phrasing!"
Alisa let out a small sigh. "Ruby."
"Yes, Alisa-chan?"
"Thank you."
Ruby stopped moving for a second, and the ever-cheerful Kaleidostick went completely still.
"Oh my," she said lightly. "You are very dangerous."
"…What?" Alisa blinked.
"You can say sincere things without warning. That is a devastating weapon."
"…Just why?" Alisa's eyebrow twitched.
"You know what, Alisa-chan? Because you continue proving you are the best partner I could have. I will help you find happiness."
"Happiness?" Alisa blinked.
"Yes." Ruby placed her wings at her side. "I, Kaleidostick Ruby, shall set you up with a cool young boy who will definitely make your heart flutter!"
A small smile almost formed on Alisa's face. "Ahahaha, if you can do that, I'll thank you."
She said it casually, thinking Ruby was joking. But Ruby's jewel flashed, already forming plans to help her new master win the affection of a certain young master.
Then she felt something was wrong, Ruby turned toward the end of the street.
"Ruby?" Alisa noticed immediately.
Their surroundings felt twisted again.
"How could this be… another tear!" Ruby's voice lost all playfulness.
Alisa's blood went cold. "W-wait, d-do y-you another one of that is coming again?!"
"..I think so," Ruby said.
The distortion split open again, and another Quantum Shadow dragged itself into the street. Alisa tried to stand immediately, but her legs were still weak from exhaustion.
"Alisa-chan, you are still exhausted!" Ruby's tone sharpened.
"I… know."
"Then you should know that you cannot fight another one right now!"
"I know that too!"
The monster turned toward her. Alisa's face tightened. Her body still hurt, and her arms still ached from strain. The first fight had already taken everything she had. But she still forced herself to stand and took Ruby with both hands.
"I won't fall here. I can't. Because if it were them… if it were Nanoha, Fate, or Hayate… they would keep standing even if they were hurt or tired!"
"Alisa-chan…" Ruby's body trembled.
"Besides, didn't you promise to introduce me to a cool boy?" Alisa gave Ruby a cheeky smile. "That's why I won't be defeated here!"
Then the Quantum Shadow rushed toward her, and Alisa braced herself. But the impact never came; a flash of silver came between her and the Quantum Shadow.
Alisa gasped as one arm slid behind her back and another slipped beneath her knees. In the next instant, she was lifted off the ground.
The Quantum Shadow's limb crashed into the place where she had been standing.
Alisa blinked, once and twice. Then she slowly looked up.
A boy in silver and black armor held her in his arms, a white cloak flowing behind him as pale blue light traced along the edges of his body. His black hair swayed with the wind, and his blue eyes were focused not on her but on the monster in front of them.
Noah Schweinorg.
Not the tired boy searching for runaway Kaleidosticks or repairing the dimensional tears his friends caused.
This was Noah in his Mystic Knight frame.
Alisa's heart gave one very unfair, very loud beat.
Noah glanced down at her and gave her a gentle, warm smile. "Sorry for the sudden rescue. You aren't hurt, right?"
Alisa stared at him, and her face slowly turned red.
"I…"
Ruby floated in her hand, far too delighted. "Oh my~."
"Ruby…" Noah looked toward the Kaleidostick.
"Young Master Noah, what an entrance. A princess carry, no less." Ruby's voice became singsong.
Noah blinked. Then he looked down and realized exactly how he was holding Alisa. His ears turned faintly red, though his voice somehow remained straight.
"…She was about to be hit."
"Of course~," Ruby replied. "A purely emergency princess carry."
From Noah's waist, Argent chimed.
"Rescue method efficiency: high. Romantic impact: also high."
"Argent." Noah's expression twitched.
"Wait… Did your belt just talk?! Or rather, what did it just say?!" Alisa's blush deepened.
"A system error," Noah said immediately.
"False," Argent replied. "It was situational analysis."
"Argent."
"Correction. Social analysis temporarily suspended."
"Oh, I like that one, brother!" Ruby twinkled with wicked delight.
"…You Kaleido series seriously have personality issues," Noah said.
The Quantum Shadow turned toward them after pulling itself back from the missed attack.
Noah's eyes sharpened. The blush faded from his face, replaced by focus.
"Please hold on."
Alisa's hand tightened against his shoulder before she realized what she had done. "W-wait, you're going to fight while carrying me?!"
Noah didn't answer; he only gave her a smile that made Alisa's heart beat again.
And just as the Quantum Shadow moved, Noah took the next step.
Alisa barely understood what had happened. One second, they were standing in the middle of the park. Next, the street blurred around them as Noah slid past the shadow's limbs with smooth, almost impossible movement. His free hand drew a silver blade of light, and with one clean motion, he cut through the monster's arm.
The severed limb scattered into quantum particles.
"Argent," Noah called.
"Argent Caliber output stabilized."
A circle of silver symbols opened beneath his feet. Noah kicked off the ground, carrying Alisa with one arm while his other hand swung Argent Caliber in a single slash.
The Quantum Shadow tried to retreat toward the tear, but Noah did not allow it. The creature's body split as his blade passed through it. Unlike Alisa's attacks, Noah's cuts did not merely damage the surface. Silver light slipped past the quantum state of its body, pinning the unstable pieces in place.
Ruby's tone turned impressed despite herself. "Young Master's technique actually bypassed the Quantum Shadow's Superpused State…"
Alisa looked up at Noah. His expression remained calm, as if this impossible thing was only one more problem to solve before dinner.
The Quantum Shadow roared without sound, its body twisting as it tried to recover.
"Lux Argentum." Noah raised his blade.
Silver light burst outward. The Quantum Shadow shattered. It didn't even have the chance to enter its collapse state and was destroyed directly.
Noah landed softly in the middle of the street, still holding Alisa as quantum particles dissolved around them like fading stardust.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"…How cool."
"Eh…?"
Noah blinked in confusion at Alisa's mutter.
Then Alisa realized what she had said. Her entire face went red, and she covered it in embarrassment.
"…Please forget that."
Noah looked at her awkwardly as silence wrapped around the two of them.
Then it was broken by two chaos-loving magical artifacts.
Ruby floated beside Alisa, absolutely glowing with dangerous joy.
"Ahhhh!!!! How sweet! How romantic! Such a perfect start for the romance arc!"
"Ruby!" Alisa shouted, blushing.
"I could also tell Master is fascinated by the young miss, Ruby." Argent chimed.
"Argent!" Noah also shouted; his face was red.
Ruby gasped. "Ah!! How lovely! A mutual reaction!"
"Ugghh," Noah and Alisa said at the same time.
They looked at each other and immediately looked away, both faces bright red.
Ruby and Argent were silent for exactly two seconds.
Then Ruby whispered, "Compatibility?"
"Promising," Argent answered. "Very promising."
Noah covered his face with one hand, and Alisa gripped Ruby like she was considering snapping the Kaleidostick in half.
"Ruby!!" Alisa said, her voice shaking with embarrassment. "Enough of that!"
Ruby sounded delighted. "Ah… already bonding as a pair."
"I said enough!"
Noah let out a sigh before looking at the tear.
"Argent, if you have time to tease us, how about you fix that dimensional tear?"
"Boo…" Argent complained.
Noah's cheek twitched as he stared at him.
"…Dimensional repair sequence starting," Argent said calmly.
The tear shrank, stitched together, and finally vanished. The park slowly regained its peace.
"…Complete."
Noah let out a relieved sigh at Argent's announcement. His Mystic Knight frame faded, returning him to his casual clothes.
Then he turned toward Alisa. "Are you really alright?"
Alisa wanted to answer sharply. She wanted to say she was fine, that she didn't need help, that she had everything under control.
But her body still hurt, and her heart was still doing something deeply inconvenient.
So she looked away and muttered, "I'm alive."
"That's good." Noah said with a smile
Ruby made a tiny sound. Alisa immediately pointed her at the ground.
"Don't say anything."
"I said nothing." Ruby somehow sounded like she was smiling.
"You were about to."
"True."
Noah glanced at Ruby, then at Alisa. "So… I suppose introductions are needed."
Alisa slowly looked back at him. Only then did both of them seem to remember that she was still in his arms. But strangely, there was no attempt from either of them to have her go down.
"I'm Noah Schweinorg."
Alisa stared for a moment. Despite everything, she managed to answer. "Alisa Bannings."
Ruby spun happily between them.
"And thus, the promised matching has begun!"
"Matching?" Noah blinked.
Ruby bent her body away, trying to look innocent.
"Wait… promised matching?" Alisa's eyes narrowed.
Then her eyes widened as she realized it. Her face burned red all over again.
Noah immediately adjusted his hold on her. "Hey, Alisa-san! Are you okay?!"
"Ah! How delicious! How Rom-Com!" Ruby twisted her body, using her wings to hug herself.
And Argent, the traitor, chimed in delight. "Warning: incoming social complication. The Rom-Com phase is going to be big."
Noah closed his eyes.
"Of course… this day won't end peacefully."
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