Fortuna Verto

56-Cursed Concert

Neither of them had time to rest quite yet, not with the main concert less than a couple of days away. There was still plenty to look into to make the even more significant event work out, leaving things to be little more than a flurry of motion.

Of course, coming to terms with what they had learned after their last performance made it difficult for their minds to keep up with everything else, but both girls had managed to at least keep everything together to ensure they were still able to keep to the original plan. They were both thankful that both Jhez and Xwyhr had also been occupied the entire time, there is no way they would have been able to confront those two after everything. Axln was still processing in her head just how Jhez fit into her future, and Lyun was at a loss in how she might even discuss anything here with Xwyhr. The girl had been completely right, predicting that she might find more opportunity from the other world.. that's exactly how her future had panned out. Such considerations were even more awkward than considerations in disclosing about a certain broken promise, but both issues stacked problems for her. Instead, they were free to focus their attention to more relaxed circumstances.. if you considered life and death terms that would be the foundation of the hopes for their entire existence at all relaxing. It at least was a more important use of their time at that point.

Despite the odds being stacked even worse than before, the plan was even easier. There wasn't even any concern about Axln having some social exposure, that was perfectly fine to her. There were worries about the significance of the curse, but even their previous tests had exemplified that they could address that as well with their plan. The Aftermath of the plan had an absurd number of concerns, but Mheridz herself was quite a worry. This time, there was no Holi to dispatch for constant surveillance. Countering all of the strategic mind Mheridz had inherited would be a sizable feat with no assurance of success. They even knew the woman was especially gifted at memorizing history, that was only going to make everything even worse. However, they still had amassed quite a number of advantages, it would be only fitting to make use of all of their resources.

Both women went to meet up with Ezhyrae, who had her ersatz running around making sure everything was already organized. Right on arrival, both Axln and Lyun found a package dropped into their arms.. a dress each that imitated their previous look but on this side. They even lost each other quickly in the rush of activity, finding themselves in a dress before they could blink. Much of the visual plan was the same, although dark elements were used in place of holos to generate appropriate camouflage. Equipment was a complication, considering everything came from the academy instead of a local supplier, but there were plans for that as well. Axln knew her only hope was to be unpredictable, and right now it was her advantage. Even if Mheridz could accurately predict what had originally happened, she couldn't predict what had changed. Axln knew this because she herself wasn't very creative, she strongly doubted Mheridz had instead gained such a trait. Every single deviation from the original would wreck Mheridz's entire assembly beyond recovery.

"Wow, Kori, you look amazing. It's even pretty difficult to tell that you're you, I bet your mother wouldn't even recognize you." "That's not exactly the parental direction I'm worried about, but thanks. The foundry will be making key use of the wardens, who would be handling security directly. We need everything we have to ensure no one could spot us before we're done. This time too, I've worked on a decent enough escape plan.. one that would even ensure our equipment makes it back with us." "You lost your equipment the last time?" "No, we just ended up having nothing to worry about. I hope things go so well again, but I would hate to simply leave everything to chance." "But.. chance is..." "Forget it, I don't want to hear it. Just make sure our equipment gets in position, we're going to be leaving right away." "Yup, everything is ready, you go do you. I'll be on call if you need anything more." "Thanks, it's good to know we have people we can count on." Ezhyrae smiled at Axln's compliment, not having actually expected it. Ezhyrae couldn't even recall if Axln had ever said anything like that before, it didn't feel quite like her. Axln usually just had everything under control comforting people that they had nothing to worry about. This.. this was something new.