Eleven: The Sequel of AlterMyth

Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Prologue

Rain continued to pour over Da Nang Air Base that late morning. Uneasy silence, veiled by the strong summer showers, hung over the fenced yard of the Army Infirmary in the wake of the storm that Mumei Nanashi and Irys left in their wakes.

Mumei saw Captain Hakos, with help from the head nurse, get back up on her feet with great effort and grunts of pain. Then, the nurse and the injured patient hobbld over to tend to the dazed Irys who was kneeling almost lifelessly on the muddy grass of the yard. They were calling out to her, but their words didn't seem to be making it through to her.

All the while, faint traces of magical wisps lingered around Irys' head. The crystalline mass that transformed her arm and filled her with strength for a brief moment was long gone. However, in their wake, Irys' rounded ears became sharp and pointed like those of the elves in fairy tales. Two pairs of black horns also sprouted out from Irys' head of crimson hair - one set being larger and more pronounced than the other.

Finally, the dark void in the socket of Irys' damaged eye shimmered with crimson magical light for a brief moment before going dark.

From where Mumei stood, even though the scene was veiled by the pouring rain, she saw Irys' transformation take place before her eyes. She thought her eyes were deceiving her, but Kronii's declaration made it clear to her.

Irys was a Nephilim.

A living, breathing Nephilim.

Shadows hung over Mumei's eyes and she hissed beneath her breath.

"I've been used...!"

Mumei winced and her hand reached for her temple. She felt like her head was spinning and she grunted in pain. A cacophony of voices, orchestrated by the distinct tone of Lady Knowledge, shrieked and yelled for more blood in one moment. Those voices grew more and more distorted until they all fell silent, as if they were washed away by the heavy rain.

Kronii Ouro passed before Mumei now. The First Lieutenant of the Air Force squatted down and drew Mumei's Ka-Bar knife that had been sheathed into the muddy earth. She looked at the blade, wiped off the mud and traces of Irys' Nephilim blood off of the edge and pocketed the weapon. With Mumei's weapon stowed away, Kronii faced Mumei and wore a disappointed frown.

"Major Omega transferred her authority from you to me, Mumei. The Head Nurse called the Major - and the Major put me in charge." Kronii explained with a grim tone, "I'm taking over this operation, Mumei. Surrender your gun and I'll have you detained." She reached behind her back and produced a pair of metal handcuffs, "This is for your own safety. Please don't resist."

Mumei clenched her fists. Her wet, fingerless gloves squelched from the pressure. She watched Kronii's stance with discerning eyes. There were ways for her to overpower the Air Force girl if she wanted to. The M1911 pistol that she wore at her hip also felt unusually heavy. It reminded Mumei of its presence - and the presence of its original owner. It reminded her that she could even give the signal for her troops to intervene.

One gesture to end it all.

Mumei didn't have the heart to do it.

At the end of their quiet standoff, Mumei took out her pistol and handed it to Kronii.

"Take care of it." Mumei spoke, barely able to hide her disdain, "The knife too."

"Of course."

Kronii took Mumei's last weapon and proceeded to arrest the owl-girl. Mumei had her hands placed behind her back and she was handcuffed. Just like that, she was marched out of the fenced backyard by Kronii. On her way out, Mumei glanced behind her and her eyes met with Captain Hakos'. The Australian rat-girl furrowed her brow and put herself between Mumei and Irys.